Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Comparing the Perceived Seriousness and Actual Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada

This paper documents and analyzes the divergence between the perceived seriousness and actual social costs associated with various substances in Canada using public opinion data collected from the Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS) in 2004 (Racine et al., in press), and a 2006 study estimating the social costs of various substances in 2002 (Rehm et al., 2006).

The first section presents background information on the psychological, institutional and socio-cultural factors that can lead to either the amplification or attenuation of perceptions of risk in society.

The next two sections present data on perceived seriousness and the social costs of substance abuse for comparison.

The last section develops a discussion of the implications of this analysis for substance abuse policy in Canada.

Download Full Report (PDF)
____________________________________________________________
at