We live in a society that not only normalizes alcohol use, but seems to endorse it. “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere,” after all. Alcohol consumption has been steadily increasing over the years, and according to the University of Victoria alcohol monitoring project, people living in the Interior Health region have the highest rate of alcohol consumption in the province.   The risks of alcohol consumption “Alcohol is such a common substance in our culture that the harms are often overlooked,” says Substance Use Practice Lead Amanda Lavigne. According to the BC Centre for Substance Use, high risk drinking can lead to disease, social problems, and economic costs. Each day 10 Canadians die in hospital from harm caused by substance use, and three in four of these deaths are due to alcohol. These harms have been magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic as many people turn to alcohol as a coping tool, and this behaviour is being normalized on social media. Although humour itself is often used to help cope with stress, this can have the unintended effect of making uncommon consumption behaviours seem more socially acceptable.  Humour such as memes on social media can normalize high-risk drinking.   According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, 25 per cent of Canadians aged 35-54 and 21 per cent aged 18-34, reported an increase in their alcohol consumption while spending more time at home due to physical distancing and self-isolation protocols. Some of the reasons for increased alcohol use include a change of schedule, boredom, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. A May 15 article from The Capital states that in just two months, B.C. has sold four Olympic swimming pools of “extra booze”, saying it is likely “the sharpest spike in collective drinking since the end of prohibition.”  Alcohol negatively impacts the immune system, putting those who consume it at higher risk from the potentially dangerous COVID-19 virus.   How COVID-19 can add to the risk of withdrawal People with alcohol use disorder may have their supply interrupted due to self-isolation, or financial hardship. Marginalized people, such as those without homes or jobs, may rely on pan-handling and collecting cans and bottles in order to buy alcohol, however during COVID-19 they are being significantly impacted due to recycling depot closures and limited public interaction. This can increase the likelihood of withdrawal, which can be deadly in the case of some high-risk drinkers. In response to this, Interior Health has implemented managed alcohol programs in Kelowna, Kamloops and Vernon with ongoing planning to expand to other communities. Kelowna Mental Health and Substance Use Manager Nadine Rigby recalls one client’s reaction: “The client was almost in tears when he received his first dose. He was extremely grateful and stated that he couldn’t believe that we cared enough to provide this service for him.” “Without this program, he would have gone into withdrawal and ended up in hospital.” Nadine Rigby, MHSU Manager While the managed alcohol programs focus on the most vulnerable population in this pandemic, safer drinking guidelines should be followed by everyone who uses alcohol. Low-risk drinking guidelines recommend less than 10 drinks a week for women, with no more than two drinks a day most days, and 15 drinks a week for men, with no more than three drinks a day most days. “Taking a harm reduction approach can help everyone who consumes alcohol. Harm reduction could look like diluting your wine with soda water and ice or having a non-alcohol beverage in between drinks to slow down consumption,” says Amanda.   Want to learn more? If you are concerned about your alcohol consumption, talk to your primary care provider about creating shared goals and improving your health. Check out these helpful resources and sources of information: Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction: Alcohol Canadian Institute for Health Information COVID-19 Alcohol and Cannabis Use Canada’s low-risk guidelines (also see video) COVID-19- Safer drinking tips BC Alcohol consumption (statistics) Interior Health Substance Use Services Alcohol: Drinking and Your Health (HealthLinkBC) Alcohol and Immune System  

Medical students based at the UBC Okanagan campus in Kelowna are helping front-line physicians in the battle against COVID-19 in the B.C. Interior. With the temporary suspension of clinical training in hospitals and clinics across the province, many medical students began looking for other ways to support physicians and patients during the pandemic. Over 80 students joined the B.C. COVID-19 medical student response team, a UBC student-led initiative supporting physicians and volunteer projects in all regions of the province. “Volunteering is a tangible and effective way to make a difference,” says Alex Monaghan, medical student and volunteer organizer. “We wanted to get involved out of appreciation and gratitude for those working to keep us protected and safe.” From providing childcare and personal assistance to physicians, to supporting patients remotely, students have rallied together to offer their support across the Interior Health region. Students have helped configure tablets with video messaging applications to help patients at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) stay connected with their families. They also recently launched a meal preparation and delivery service to support physicians and their families. “As we adjust, both personally and professionally to the new realities of life with COVID-19, I’m deeply encouraged by the generosity and solidarity of this newest generation of future physicians,” says Dr. Sarah Brears, Interim Regional Associate Dean for the Southern Medical Program and family physician. “The extra support they’re offering to the community is helping many physicians stay focused on their work and their patients.” Medical student Brian Hayes is one of the volunteers helping out by entertaining the busy 18-month old of a local physician working at KGH. For Hayes, volunteering is a small way to give back during an unprecedented time. "As individuals committed to providing care to the public, we have a strong desire to assist those on the front lines,” says Hayes. “Volunteering our time to support physicians with an inflated workload or help with projects such as contact tracing allows us to be engaged in the COVID-19 response." As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, students remain committed to volunteering with projects that can support physicians, patients, and the health-care system as a whole. “We chose medicine because we have a deeply ingrained desire to make a difference in the lives of those around us,” says Monaghan. “Those values don’t disappear just because there’s a pause in our clinical training. We’re here to help in whatever form that takes.” Reprinted with permission from The University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus

  Dealing with a severe speech disorder and transitioning from hospital to home was more than enough for the Freeborn family to cope with. Adding COVID-19 to the mix and hospital visitor restrictions, and problems could have easily gone from bad to worse. Despite those challenges, this family was able to find a way around those obstacles, with the help of Kelly Talbott, a speech language pathologist at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). Larry Freeborn was in hospital dealing with Wernicke’s aphasia, a disorder which makes it difficult for him to understand the meaning of spoken words and sentences. This condition also makes it a struggle for him to use words to express himself in a meaningful way. Earlier this month, Larry was finally well enough to go home. Prior to leaving KGH, Larry and his family needed help figuring out how to communicate with each other. But with physical distancing regulations at the hospital, the ideal process of face-to-face education in the same room was not an option. So Kelly devised a work-around to help this family get the support they needed at a critical time in their lives. In the days leading up to Larry’s transition home, Kelly joined his family from a safe distance on their daily visits with Larry though a hospital window. Through the window, she demonstrated the techniques this family would need to be successful communicating with each other. Although life inside and outside the hospital is not what it used to be, creativity and a people-focused approach made a big impact in the lives of this family.    

Is there an older adult in your life? Staying connected despite social distancing can be a real challenge.