Ottawa Public Health seeking feedback on local impacts of alcohol use

_ (via Ottawa Public Health) _ Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is seeking feedback from the public about the local effect of excessive alcohol use in Ottawa. The online survey is part of OPH’s Strategic Direction to promote a culture of moderation and decrease harms related to alcohol misuse. The project aims to start a community dialogue among the public and stakeholders about community concerns related to alcohol use and to explore options to better address the current situation in Ottawa.

You can share your views:

 * 
**
 Online
**
at
[
 HaveYourSayOttawa.ca
](http://haveyoursayottawa.ca/)
. This bilingual online consultation includes 10 short questions and will be available until February 29.

 * 
**
 Call
**
the OPH Information Line to speak with a public health nurse at
[
 613-580-6744
](tel:613-580-6744)
(TTY:
[
 613-580-9656
](tel:613-580-9656)
).

 * 
**
 Email
**
[
 healthsante@ottawa.ca
](mailto:healthsante@ottawa.ca)

Alcohol use is commonly seen as an individual choice and the consequences of excessive use, which affect the community at large, are often ignored. One-third of Canadian adults say that in the past year they experienced one or more types of harms resulting from someone else’s excessive drinking.

In Ottawa, alcohol continues to be the most used substance and causes a greater health burden of injury and disease than all other drugs, whether illegal or prescription. The impacts from excessive alcohol use include physical and sexual assaults, falls, motor-vehicle collisions caused by impaired drivers or impaired pedestrians, lost productivity in the workplace, family violence and breakdown, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.

Every year in Ottawa, about 1,000 adults are hospitalized and 110 people die from factors attributed to alcohol consumption.

For additional information, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca or call Ottawa Public Health Information at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656 ). Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter .