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10 August 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for July 2010 has been posted to the listserv. 27 July 2010 The Summer 2010 edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. We recap the highlights of the popular 7th Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity forum, and introduce our next web conference: The Economics of Alcohol Control Policy in Canada. To be held on Thursday, September 23rd, Dr. Gerald Thomas of the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse will discuss the fundamental economic questions in understanding the effects of pricing policies on alcohol consumption and harm. If you are interested in learning more about how the field of economics and public health converge, register now online. 6 July 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for June 2010 has been posted to the listserv. 28 June 2010 Presentation for the Preventing violence in and around licensed premises: A review of Australian and Canadian research teleconference is now on the website. 22 June 2010 Registration is now closed for the “Preventing violence in and around licensed premises: A review of Australian and Canadian research” teleconference. 17 June 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for May 2010 has been posted to the listserv. 11 June 2010 The June 2010 edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. Privatization of the LCBO is still on Premier McGuinty's radar. Alcohol is a major public health issue: we reiterate the many reasons to maintain its sale as a provincially-held monopoly. As part of World Cup Soccer fever, the AGCO has allowed bars to start serving alcohol at 10:00 a.m. Read our thoughts on the subject and the reactions of media and other organizations. 
APN will be presenting a poster at the CPHA Conference (June 13-16) entitled “A Policy Perspective to Alcohol Problems”. The Poster aims to demonstrate the importance of policy development as part of a comprehensive health promotion approach, including prevention, screening, early intervention, and treatment of alcohol problems. The poster examines:
Policy can be developed by using a four-step approach which includes: gathering support, setting goals and objectives, making decisions, and develop a written policy. To learn more, APN invites you and your colleagues to visit the poster display at Poster Board 60. An APN staff member will be available to discuss alcohol policy on Tuesday between 10:00–10:30 a.m., 3:00–3:30 p.m. and Wednesday 10:30-11:00 a.m. 1 June 2010 Registration is now open for Preventing violence in and around licensed premises: A review of Australian and Canadian research to be held on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT. The basis for this presentation will be a narrative review of published Canadian and Australian research evaluating interventions with the potential or intention of reducing alcohol-related violence in and around licensed premises. 26 May 2010 The May 2010 edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It outlines the conclusions and recommendations from Dr. Tim Stockwell's recently released report, Operator and Regulatory Best Practices in the Reduction of Violence in and Around Licenced Premises: A Review of Australian and Canadian Research. APN will also be holding a teleconference with Dr. Stockwell on June 29th. There is also preliminary information on OPHA's annual conference, which this year will be a smaller Think Tank/Policy Forum in anticipation of the joint alPHa/OPHA/OAHPP Conference next April. 18 May 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for April 2010 has been posted to the listserv. 3 May 2010 Effective April 1st, the Association to Reduce Alcohol Promotion in Ontario project has been bundled into the mandate of APN. During its 13 years, ARAPO had three key functions: resource development and dissemination; awareness and education; and, networking and information exchange. To achieve these goals ARAPO developed many tools and materials, published reports, and engaged in many activities to help create awareness around and media literacy about alcohol advertising. These resources have been absorbed into the APN website. Click here to see a list of ARAPO's activities and products. Updated helpful “redirect” web page to find new location of ARAPO resources and reports. Updated links on website's sitemap. 26 April 2010 The April 2010 edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. We take this opportunity to present a Year in Review and reflect on the major alcohol-related events and issues APN was involved in. 15 April 2010 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. 1 April 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for March 2010 has been posted to the listserv. 17 March 2010 Registration is now open for Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Misuse Field for New Professionals, a web conference to be held on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. This popular teleconference is directed at those new to the substance misue and injury prevention field, giving an overview of the field, who the major players are, and highlighting websites, publications, and other resources of use to the public health professional. 15 March 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for February 2010 has been posted to the listserv. 12 March 2010 The March 2010 edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It discusses our recently release research paper, Alcohol and Community-based Violence: A Systematic Review. The paper reviewed journal articles from 1999 – 2009, looking at links between violence and alcohol as they relate to over twelve different variables. We conclude with eight strategies and 21 recommendations grounded in the ‘Four Pillars’. Also in the ITW: in December 2009, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada released their “Rating the Provinces and Territories” report on impaired driving laws. They recommend Canada adopt Random Breath Testing(RBT): a law currently before Parliament. What are the potential challenges? How could it coexist with our Charter of Rights and Freedoms? Join our March 30th teleconference where these issues will be discussed. 9 March 2010 Registration is now open for The Case for Random Breath Testing (RBT) in Canada: Reviewing the Evidence and Challenges, a web conference to be held on Tuesday, March March 30, 2010. Robert Solomon will be outlining Canada’s recent impaired driving record, and examining the impact that comprehensive RBT programs have had in comparable countries. The presentation reviews the potential challenges to such legislation, including whether it would be upheld under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 9 March 2010 APN's most recent research paper, Alcohol and Community-based Violence: A Systematic Review, is now available for download from the website. The report proposed to identify the associated effects of alcohol sales on community-based violence as explained in the existing literature, incorporating journal articles from 1999–2009. If you wish to have hard copies, please use our online order form to specify quantity. 26 February 2010 We have added a new link to our Alcohol & Mental Illness Info Pack: CAMH's KnowledgeX Information Portal - an electronic resource aimed directly at professionals working in the mental health and addictions field. The portal is designed as a dynamic information resource for professionals, whether they’re specialists or primary care service providers, whether they work in health promotion or education. Most importantly, KnowledgeX is built to encourage the participation of professionals in sharing information, expertise and experience – in other words, communities of practice. 19 February 2010 Online registration for the 7th Annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum is now closed. If you wish to register, please contact us to see if there is room available. 19 February 2010 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. 19 February 2010 APN has had their poster presentation accepted at the CPHA Centenary Conference, to be held June 13-16, 2010 at the Toronto Sheraton Centre. The poster, A Policy Perspective to Alcohol Problems, demonstrates the importance of policy development as part of a comprehensive health promotion approach to alcohol problems. The APN's Let's Take Action guide, showing best practices on alcohol policy development, will be featured. 10 February 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for January 2010 has been posted to the listserv. 8 February 2010 The February 2010 edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It discusses the recent moves by the provincial government to consider privatizing the LCBO…again! There are several links to reports and letters citing the many reasons this is not a good idea. We also encourage you to take advantage of the secure online registration for the upcoming annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum. 5 January 2010 "Alcohol in the News" for December 2009 has been posted to the listserv. 18 December 2009 Registration is now open! The 7th annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at the North York Memorial Hall in Toronto. The theme this year: Alcohol Policy: Time to Act! Current Research, Policy, and Practical Applications to Address Alcohol-related Harm. For the latest information as it becomes available, bookmark the ANOC Forum web page and stay tuned on the APOLNET listserv. Please note: OIPRC will also be holding an Injury Prevention Forum at the same venue on the next day, Wednesday, March 3, 2010. If you would like more information, please visit their website. By attending both Forums you save over $40. 16 December 2009 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. 8 December 2009 The Winter edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It discusses the highlights of the recently released OSDHUS Study from CAMH. The OSDUHS report, which has been released every two years since 1977, has spotted trends in teen behaviour as it relates to alcohol and other substance use, as well as the broader areas of health and well-being. The ITW also outlines the details of the upcoming annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum. 6 December 2009 Renovated Key Contacts Database is now up on the website. It boasts a cleaner interface, an alphabetical index, a search option, and an easy way to get your Member ID when you want to update your profile. The system will still send out annual emails reminding members to review their profiles using their Member ID as the password. Take this moment to check out your listing. 4 December 2009 Registration is now closed for the Alcohol Policies: Reflections on Public Perceptions, Science and Politics. "Alcohol in the News" for November 1-30, 2009 has been posted to the listserv. 30 November 2009 Save the Date! 18 November 2009 The November edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. This issue discusses the success of the Think and Drive program in Niagara Region, and highlights the CAMH Monitor study detailing public perceptions of alcohol policies, which will be covered in detail at our December 8 web conference. 16 November 2009 Registration is now open for the Alcohol Policies: Reflections on Public Perceptions, Science and Politics to be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon EST. This presentation will cover in detail the public perceptions on alcohol policies, referring to the Ontario-wide surveys of adults. We will hypothesize about the strength and type of contributions of different forces that may influence alcohol policies: public opinion, science and politics. And finally, we will focus on what policies and interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing risks and damage from alcohol, and outline some action steps at the provincial and local levels. 13 November 2009 "Alcohol in the News" for October, 2009 has been posted to the listserv. 20 October 2009 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. We also have downloadable PDFs of the back issues of all ARDs available on our website. 13 October 2009 The October edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. This issue discusses two key issues: can bars run alcohol promotions that defy the social mandates of their jurisdiction? what are the liability implications? and is Facebook the new channel for unregulated alcohol promotion to youth? After reading the article, let us know your thoughts by posting on our listserv. 29 September 2009 Registration is now closed for the Trends in Alcohol Marketing: Is it sill possible to regulate alcohol marketing effectively? 3 September 2009 The September edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. This issue discusses trends in alcohol advertising, highlighting the findings of a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health by the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). 2 September 2009 Registration is now open for the Trends in Alcohol Marketing: Is it sill possible to regulate alcohol marketing effectively? to be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. EST. This presentation will commence by describing the effects of alcohol advertising on drinking behavior among youth, and frequently used policy measures to regulate alcohol marketing. Additionally, new trends in alcohol marketing will be discussed together with possible consequences and challenges of these new marketing tools for existing alcohol marketing regulations. The presentation will conclude by drawing attention to recommendations for public health agencies and policy makers to decrease harmful effects of alcohol advertising among children and adolescents. 11 August 2009 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. We also have downloadable PDFs of the back issues of all ARDs available on our website. 27 July 2009 The Summer edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. This issue covers high school graduation and alcohol consumption: what are some parents doing in a small Saskatchewan town; and, safe boating: the penalties for driving impaired are the same as if you are in your car – and those penalties went up this year. 11 June 2009 The June edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. This issue is devoted exclusively to Alcohol and Women, using the recent “million woman” study by Dr. Naomi Allen, et al. to highlight the greater impacts alcohol has on women of any age. 29 May 2009 Many of the pages on the website have been updated with more current resource links. In particular, the Social Marketing section under our Tools for Action has many references on how to craft an effective PSA, links to the various Advertising Guidelines in Ontario and Canada, and how and where to complain effectively if you see a violation. There is also a list of links to over 60 alcohol-related journals, bibliographies on topics such as alcohol and homelessness, and the LRDGs.. There is also a handy list of Government ministries and Public Agencies, Boards and Commissions across Canada. 12 May 2009 The May edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It presents the feedback from and recaps the topics covered at the annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum. The ITW also dicusses the new, stiffer penalties for impaired driving that came into effect May 1st. We also encourage you to consider submitting an abstract to the OPHA 2009 Annual Conference: deadline is Monday, May 18. 6 May 2009 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. "Alcohol in the News" for February, 2009 has been posted to the listserv. 29 April 2009 The April edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It discusses the research and impact of alcohol and violence in areas of high bar concentration, citing Toronto's Entertainment District as an example. The ITW also dicusses a study out of the University of Florida showing the differing perceptions of intoxication between youth and seniors. 31 March 2009 Registration is now open for the Alcohol and Violence: Raising the Bar teleconference to be held on May 5, 2009 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. EDT. The presentation will discuss a model of bar violence that draws on situational crime prevention, routine activities, and social interaction theory, including the role of alcohol, the patrons who frequent bars, staff who work in licensed settings, the barroom environment, social process leading to aggression and the larger regulatory environment. 30 March 2009 The March edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It discusses the impact of the recent econmic downturn on alcohol advertising, and a recent study showing the effect of alcohol advertising on consumption behaviour. This study out of the Netherlands was covered widely in the press: OPHA's Executive Director, Connie Uetrecht, was interviewed. We also discuss the recent report released by the Provincial Health Office of British Columbia, Public Health Approach to Alcohol Policy: An Updated Report from the Provincial Health Officer, an update from a similar report released in 2002. Notre numéro du mois de mars de « Questions à surveiller / Issues to Watch » est à présent disponible en ligne, en français et en anglais. Cette édition aborde les répercussions du ralentissement économique sur la publicité pour les boissons alcoolisées ainsi que les résultats d’une recherche récente qui a identifié les conséquences de la publicité pour l’alcool sur le comportement des consommateurs de boissons alcoolisées. Cette recherche réalisée aux Pays-Bas a reçu une très bonne couverture médiatique, dont une entrevue de la directrice générale de OPHA, Connie Uetrecht. Ce bulletin du mois de mars aborde également le récent rapport de l’hygiéniste provincial en Colombie-Britannique, intitulé « Public Health Approach to Alcohol Policy: An Updated Report from the Provincial Health Officer » (La démarche en santé publique concernant la politique sur les boissons alcoolisées: mise à jour du rapport de l’hygiéniste provincial). Ce rapport est une mise à jour d’un rapport similaire publié en 2002. 13 March 2009 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. 12 March 2009 Presentation and reference materials for Advertising Ban to Children teleconference are now posted to the website. 11 March 2009 Registration is now closed for the Advertising Ban to Children teleconference to be held Tuesday, March 17th. Materials will be posted to the website three days prior to the event. 9 March 2009 The links and presentations from the 6th Annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum are now ready for download from our website. 3 March 2009 "Alcohol in the News" for February, 2009 has been posted to the listserv. 27 February 2009 The Some Cancer With Your Cocktail segment from Good Morning America: Health tv show on ABC. Study: over 1,000,000 women over 7 years: "There is no level of alcohol consumption which is safe." See also: links to print articles 25 February 2009 The 2009 edition of the Directory of Substance Abuse and Injury Prevention Contacts in Public Health ("Redbook") is now available online in PDF form or hard copy by using our online order form. 19 February 2009 The February edition of Issues to Watch is now available online. It discusses the Niagara Region Health Unit report presented in December 2008 on the impacts of alcohol as it relates to Canada, Ontario, and the Niagara Region; highlights three upcoming Distance Learning and Networking opportunities offered by APN; and, outlines two new resources from CAMH — the Winter edition of CrossCurrents, and "Partying and Getting Drunk ". 12 February 2009 A 2007 Canadian study estimated that tweens had an annual purchasing power of 2.9 billion dollars in Canada and influences the spending of another 20 billion in Canadian households. On March 17, 2009 Brian Cook will present on the move for an Advertising Ban to Children. His presentation will examine the science and art of advertising, the research of advertising, how kids interpret advertising, the connections between food advertising and alcohol advertising and what role public health can play. 9 February 2009 Le domaine de la prévention de la consommation abusive d’alcool et d’autres drogues est-il nouveau pour vous ? Occupez-vous votre emploi depuis moins d’un an et aimeriez-vous savoir où vous procurez les toutes dernières nouvelles, outils et autres ressources pour vos programmes ? Veuillez vous joindre à nous le 12 mars 2009 à 10h00 pour participer à une téléconférence éducative GRATUITE qui portera sur la prévention du mésusage d’alcool et d'autres nouvelles drogues, pour les professionnels de la santé les unités de santé publique, dans les centres de santé communautaire, au sein de comités de sensibilisation aux drogues, de groupes communautaires et autres coalitions ainsi que tout autre intervenant(e) intéressé(e). L'espace est limité et l'inscription se terminera tôt si nous parvenons à la capacité. 2 February 2009 "Alcohol in the News" for January, 2009 has been posted to the listserv. 14 January 2009 "Alcohol in the News" for December 2008 has been posted to the listserv. The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now posted to the listserv. 22 December 2008 The Winter edition of Issues to Watch is now available online, discussing the many alcohol-related conferences held in the last two months, particularly the one focussing on the Toronto Entertainment District, and Alcohol and Injury. 17 December 2008 Registration is now open for the 6th annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum, to be held in Toronto on March 5, 2009. This year, as there is a modest fee, the Registration Form will direct you to a secure site that will allow you to pay for your attendance using a credit card. 28 November 2008 Save the Date! The sixth annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity forum will take place on Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at North York Memorial Hall in Toronto. This year's theme: "Alcohol Across the Life Span: Current Research and Practical Applications for Alcohol-Related Harm". Bookmark the Forum's web page and stay tuned for updates! In October 2008, the Alcohol Policy Network conducted a user survey to gauge our clients’ needs, expectations, along with gathering feedback on our current products and services. According to our survey results, we provide resources to a wide range of sectors and regions and areas represented are province-wide, with the majority of respondents from Central East, East, and South West. Click here to read about the highlights. The majority of respondents visit our website monthly to receive current information on alcohol issues, with our current news services (e.g., Issues to Watch) and the sample alcohol policy section rated highly. Secondary reasons to visit the website included to attain research for a paper, project, or story; to help develop policy; and to inquire about workshops or presentations on alcohol policy. Key areas for improvement included updating and expansion of topical information packs and more focus on Canadian research, reports, and legal decisions. We thank those of you who participated in the survey and we look forward to utilizing the information gained to inform our future programming! 10 November 2008 The November edition of Issues to Watch is now available online, discussing how the work of the Alcohol Policy Network maps directly to the recently released Ontario Public Health Standards, and outlines the upcoming Alcohol and Older Adults teleconference. 5 November 2008 Are you new to the substance misuse prevention field? Have you been in the job for less than a year and would like information on where to get the latest news, tools, and resources for your programming? Registration is now open for the very popular Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Misuse Field for New Professionals teleconference. In February we had to close registration early due to overwhelming demand. It will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EST. Space is limited so register early. 4 November 2008 "Alcohol in the News" for October, 2008 has been posted to the listserv. 31 October 2008 The Annual APN User Survey is now closed. Results are being analyzed and a summary will be posted on the APN website no later than December 1st. 11 October 2008 The Annual APN User Survey is now available online. 10 October 2008 The October edition of Issues to Watch is now available online, discussing the new rules coming for the Liquor Licence Act, and International FASD day. We also encourage our colleagues to fill out our 15-minute survey on APN's products and services. We will be using your input to inform our planning into the next fiscal year. 6 October 2008 "Alcohol in the News" for September, 2008 has been posted to the listserv. 5 September 2008 The September edition of Issues to Watch is now available online, discussing the movement from "binge" to "extreme" drinking among youth, and Canada's new impaired driving legislation. Cette question est également disponible en français. 4 September 2008 Registration is now closed for Alcohol Sales and Risk of Serious Assault. 3 September 2008 "Alcohol in the News" for August, 2008 has been posted to the listserv. 12 August 2008 Registration is now open for Alcohol Sales and Risk of Serious Assault on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. EDT. This presentation will present the findings of a large epidemiological study examining the association between LCBO alcohol sales in Ontario and the risk of hospitalization for assault. Other related published data will be presented on the association between alcohol sales or consumption and assault. Proposed methods to reduce alcohol-related assault will also be presented. 22 July 2008 The "Teleconferences" page has been split into 3 separate web pages: Teleconferences (for those presentations done over the telephone/web); ANOC Forums (for the detailed information and presentation materials associated with our annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodities forum); and Workshops/Presentations (for policy workshops and other presentations delivered in person). If you have bookmarked the "Teleconferences" page, please update your URL. 21 July 2008 Many of the links on the following pages have been updated: About the Site guide; Who's responsible for what in alcohol sales and retailing in Ontario; Who do I Contact?; most of the People to Contact pages (media contacts, organizational contacts, etc.); global news sources used to create the AIN; Enacted Legislation as it pertains to alcohol; federal and provincial alcohol-related Pending Bills; and a description of APN's Products and Services. 3 July 2008 The Summer edition of Issues to Watch is now available online, discussing alcohol policies for the golf course industry, and offering up 8 tips from Durham Region Health Department on how to stay safe while boating and swimming. 10 June 2008 Several of the links have been updated in the Who Do I Contact? reference page and the list of Key Organizations and Associations has been expanded. 9 June 2008 The June edition of Issues to Watch is now available online, discussing alcohol-fueled violence, and offering up some tips for parents around upcoming Prom activities. In addition, prom organizers are encouraged to institute on-going alcohol policies at their venues. APN's Let's Take Action on Alcohol Problems in Community Halls and Rental Facilities is a helpful guide to developing, implementing, and enforcing policies in order to decrease associated harms. 20 May 2008 Presentations from the May 30th teleconference, Drinking and driving in Canada: Results of the Road Safety Monitor 2007 is now available on the website. 15 May 2008 The Association to Reduce Alcohol Promotion in Ontario (ARAPO) has produced a research paper, Alcohol and Youth: Recommendations for Research An Analysis of Canadian Data on Alcohol and Youth Trends, that looks at all available survey data on youth and alcohol in Canada, and the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The detailed analysis produced eight key findings, and four key recommendations. 12 May 2008 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now available on the website. 9 May 2008 The May edition of Issues to Watch is now available online, discussing the TIRF's recent Road Safety Monitor 2007: Drinking and Driving report, and the laws regarding boating and alcohol use. Several updates were made to the Impaired Boating Information Pack: We have updated Background Information on boating and alcohol; there are several new links in the Best Practices section as they relate to programs and interventions; Research Papers; Position Papers; and a section on Further Readings and Resources on boating and alcohol use. 5 May 2008 Registration is now open for the Drinking and driving in Canada: Results of the Road Safety Monitor 2007 teleconference. Cet événement sera conduit en anglais, toutefois des questions et les discussions en français seront bien accueillies. Presented by Ward Vanlaar of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, it will cover several key findings from their most recent annual survey. 11 April 2008 The April 2008 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online, giving an update on the provincial alcohol strategy, and discussing the provincial drinking age. 1 April 2008 The four Quick Quizzes — testing your "Alcohol Quotient" on the legal drinking age, alcohol control policies, who's who in the various alcohol regulation fields — have been recently updated. Several updates were made to the Workplace Information Pack: We have added several new samples of existing Workplace Alcohol Policies to use as a reference when developing one for your workplace; there is a list of Best Practices in the Workplace as they relate to alcohol use; and a section on Further Readings and Resources on alcohol in the workplace. 27 March 2008 Presentations are now uploaded for the 5th Annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum. 18 March 2008 Registration is now CLOSED for the very popular Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Abuse Field for New Professionals teleconference. 17 March 2008 "Alcohol in the News" for March 1-15, 2008 has been posted to the listserv. 4 March 2008 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now available on the website. The March 2008 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online, discussing the three provincial Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. 3 March 2008 "Alcohol in the News" for February 16-29, 2008 has been posted to the listserv. 26 February 2008 "Alcohol in the News" for February 1-15, 2008 has been posted to the listserv. 22 February 2008 Registration is now CLOSED for the very popular Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Abuse Field for New Professionals teleconference. 12 February 2008 The February 2008 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online, discussing the three provincial Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. 24 January 2008 Registration is now open for the very popular Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Abuse Field for New Professionals teleconference. Last fall we had to close registration early due to overwhelming demand. It will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST. Space is limited so register early. 23 January 2008 Registration is now open for the 5th Annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum. This year the topic will be "Adapting National and Provincial Alcohol Strategies for Local Impact". It will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at the Ben Franklin Centre, in Ottawa. Space is limited so register early to guarantee a seat. 17 January 2008 "Alcohol in the News" for January 1-15, 2008 has been posted to the listserv. 16 January 2008 The ARAPO Recognition Awards nominations are open. Nominations must be received by February 29, 2008. 10 January 2008 Background materials and the presentation for the upcoming Culture Counts: Best Practices In Community Education in Addiction and Mental Health with Ethnocultural Communities teleconference sis now available for viewing or downloading. 9 January 2008 Major changes have been made to the Alcohol and Chronic Disease Information Pack located under the Information Packs --> Health and Safety menu. 4 January 2008 The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Digest is now available on the website. 29 December 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for December 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. 20 December 2007 A new link to a Toolkit of Evaluation Methods and Measures on the OIPRC website added to the Newbie Orientation Toolkit. 20 December 2007 Dates have been announced for two more APN-hosted teleconferences, and the annual, highly popular Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum. On February 19th, there will be a presentation on Alcohol Advertising and Youth. On February 28th, we will be presenting our semi-annual Newbie Orientation 101 teleconference, in conjunction with the Alcohol and Other Drugs group. The ANOC 5 Forum will be held this year in Ottawa, on March 27th. Mark these dates in your calendar and check back on the Teleconferences page of the website for more information as it becomes available early in the new year. 18 December 2007 Due to an overwhelming response, registration for the teleconference on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 is now closed. 6 December 2007 The Winter 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online, featuring 8 Safe Hosting Tips for the Holiday Season. On Tuesday, January 15, 2008, the Alcohol Policy Network will be hosting a teleconference on Culture Counts: Best Practices In Community Education in Addiction and Mental Health with Ethnocultural Communities. This new guide, developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), shows how to create and implement health promotion initiatives that will have an impact in ethnocultural communities. The deadline to register is Monday, January 7, 2008. Space is limited and registration will close early if we reach capacity. 4 December 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for November 16-30, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. 16 November 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for November 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. 5 November 2007 The Alcohol Policy Network has released their latest research report, Alcohol and Youth Trends: Implications for Public Health. The report focuses on the effects of a positive family environment on drinking choices among the youth population. Other areas explored are peer influence, community and school influence, availability and access to alcohol, attractive advertising and promotion, mental health issues, and socio-economic status and their link to alcohol consumption. Download a copy at the above link or, to request a hard copy of the report, please use our online order form. The November 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online. "Alcohol in the News" for October 16-31, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. 22 October 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for October 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. 12 October 2007 Presentation slideshow and downloadable PDF for Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Abuse Field for New Professionals is now available online. 11 October 2007 The October 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online. Registration is closed for the Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Abuse Field for New Professionals. 2 October 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for September 16-30, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. 27 September 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for September 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. 12 September 2007 Registration is now open for the Newbie Orientation 101: An Orientation to the Substance Abuse Field for New Professionals to be held from 10:00-11:30 am. on Thursday, October 18, 2007. This presentation is intended for public health professionals new to the substance abuse prevention field or for those just wanting a refresher on current resources to inform their work. This presentation will include an overview of the Substance Abuse Prevention field; survival tips; web tours; and time for a Q & A session. 11 September 2007 The September 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 30 July 2007 The Summer 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online. There will be a one-day pre-conference workshop on "Alcohol: Canada's Favorite Drug – A Population level Perspective on Risks, Damage, Challenges and Policy Responses at the CPHA Annual Conference. Held on Sunday, September 16, from 9:00-4:00 p.m., the workshop is free to any Delegates to the conference. 12 July 2007 We have made substantial updates to the Sample Alcohol Policies pages, including a new category - Donations/Sponsorships/Advertising - and a beefed up Sports and Recreation Association ssection. All our Sample Alcohol Policy Collections can be found under Laws & Polices --> Policies. The Social Marketing section, located under Resources --> Tools for Action, has added a Background Information page, and a page of relevant weblinks and resources. If there are any links you think should be represented, please contact us with the information. 21 June 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for May 16-31, 2007 was posted to the listserv on June 1st. However, due to problems at Web Networks, you will not be able to access it directly from our site's web page. To view listserv archives, grouped by month, please go to the Web Networks archive page. 15 June 2007 Registration is now closed for the Thursday, June 21, 2007 teleconference on "Alcohol as a Risk Factor for Chronic Disease: Recent Research, provincial-level policies and local action". The presentation slides have now been uploaded, in both PPS and PDF format. The June 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online, featuring the effects of marketing booze to kids. 25 May 2007 On Thursday, June 21, 2007, the Alcohol Policy Network will be holding a one-hour teleconference on "Alcohol as a Risk Factor for Chronic Disease: Recent Research, provincial-level policies and local action" "Alcohol in the News" for May 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the listserv. Due to server migration of our listserv archives by Web Networks, until further notice, no listserv links on our website will be available. The listserv itself is still up and running. Only subscribers will have access to the postings of others through daily emails. 4 May 2007 The May 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online, featuring Safe Proms, and alcohol in the workplace. The web-enabled portion of the listserv is currently off-line. Web Networks is aware of the problem. We will keep you posted when it is back up. 18 April 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for April 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 5 April 2007 The April 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online. "Alcohol in the News" for March 16-31, 2007 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 27 March 2007 In our section on Municipal Alcohol Policies in use in Ontario and across Canada, we have added a new one from the Township of Middlesex Centre, Ontario. The archive of all APOLNET listserv postings is now up-to-date. The presentations from the recent Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forum are now available on the website. Note: these are in "View Only" format and are quite large files - some may take a while to download depending on your internet speed. 20 March 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for March 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the website and the listserv. Note that due to technical difficulties at Web Networks, listserv postings after February 28th cannot be seen on the APN website until further notice. 16 March 2007 For the upcoming Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodicty forum, we have now uploaded the agenda, presentation descriptions, speakers' biographies, and a post-forum evaluation form which participants can fax back to APN. The recently published research report, Alcohol and Chronic Disease: an Ontario perspective, is now available for downloading. To purchase a hard copy please use our online order form [PDF]. 7 March 2007 The 2007 edition of the Directory of Substance Abuse and Injury Prevention Contacts in Public Health (Redbook) is now available online in PDF form or for purchase [PDF] for the nominal fee of $15.00. There is a job opening for a part-time Project Coordinator for the Alcohol Education Projects. For more information, please visit the OPHA website. Submission deadline is 12:00 noon March 23rd. "Alcohol in the News" for February 16-28, 2007 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 21 February 2007 The February/March 2007 edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 19 February 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for February 1-15, 2007 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 26 January 2007 Registration is now open for the The Alcohol Help Centre: An online tool for problem drinkers and clinicians teleconference. Space is limited. We will close registration early when we reach capacity. 23 January 2007 Our next teleconference, entitled The Alcohol Help Centre: An online tool for problem drinkers and clinicians, will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Registration will begin shortly. On March 22, 2007 the Alcohol Policy Network will be co-hosting the Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity 4 Forum. This year we will be discussing the link between alcohol and chronic disease and the practical programming that is currently available in relation to this relevant and timely topic. 22 January 2007 "Alcohol in the News" for December 16, 2006 - January 15, 2007 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 19 December 2006 A substantial revision of the Youth in General's page of interactive websites and web-based resources and publications. The Winter edition of "Issues to Watch" is now available online. "Alcohol in the News" for December 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 6 December 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for November 16-30, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 21 November 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for November 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 6 November 2006 Registration for the November 9th teleconference is now closed. Background materials will be posted by end of day Monday. 3 November 2006 The November "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 30 October 2006 A new page has been added to the APN website keep you up-to-date on the Youth and Alcohol, Messages and Media (YAMM) Campaign. The keepcontrol.ca website will be the home to information, campaign literature, and a blog to encourage dialogue among interested parties. The gardecontrole.ca website is the French equivalent. Bookmark these pages and check in regularly to see what's new. 17 October 2006 The October "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 12 October 2006 Online registration is now available for the November 9, 2006 teleconference, launching the Youth and Alcohol, Messages and Media (YAMM) Campaign. 26 September 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for September 1-22, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. On November 9, 2006, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST, the Alcohol Policy Network will be hosting a teleconference on Youth and Alcohol, Messages and Media (YAMM) Campaign Launch. Facilitated by Joe Rock, Coordinator, Youth and Alcohol Campaign, Ontario Public Health Association. This free, 1-hour teleconference will introduce the new keepcontrol.ca website, and the youth to youth social marketing campaign on risky drinking. Registration will begin Monday, October 16th. Are you New to the Substance Abuse and Injury Prevention Field? Then mark your calendar for the Newbie Orientation teleconference on Wednesday, November 15th. You will receive a quick overview of the SA/IP field and a "one-stop shopping" Newbie Orientation Toolkit with lots of resources, references, and contact points. Stay tuned to the listserv and this website for further information as it becomes available. 31 August 2006 The September "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 23 August 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for August 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 8 August 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for July 16-31, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 26 July 2006 The Priorities 2006: Developments in alcohol policy since 1996 has been posted to the website. 25 July 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for July 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 17 July 2006 Background reading for Alcohol Policy in an Hour: Just the Basics is now available online. The presentation slides will be uploaded shortly. 12 July 2006 Due to an overwhelming response, registration for Alcohol Policy in an Hour: Just the Basics is now closed. 7 July 2006 The Summer "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 27 June 2006 On July 20, 2006, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST, the Alcohol Policy Network will be hosting a teleconference on Alcohol Policy in an Hour: Just the Basics. Moderated by Dr. Norman Giesbrecht of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, this free, 1-hour teleconference is perfect for those new to the substance abuse prevention field or those just needing a refresher on recent developments relating to alcohol policy. 20 June 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for June 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 9 June 2006 The June "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 5 June 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for May 16-31, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 23 May 2006 The Alcohol Policy Network will be hosting a Listserv Discussion on Safe Grad / Safe Prom activities in your community, from June 1-16, 2006. "Alcohol in the News" for May 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. 5 May 2006 The May "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 4 May 2006 The Newbie Toolkit resource page is now online. A new listserv resource (CCSA's Addiction News Daily) has been added to the List of e-Bulletins/Listservs page. 2 May 2006 The registration for the rescheduled Newbie Orientation teleconference will close at 4:00 p.m. today. "Alcohol in the News" for April 16-30, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. In 1996, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse released the first-ever report on the costs of substance abuse in Canada, a study that estimated the costs of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs abuse in Canada.
In 2003, Health Canada funded CCSA to develop a research proposal for an updated substance abuse cost study. A federal/provincial partnership was established to direct the second Canadian substance abuse cost study. 21 April 2006 "Alcohol in the News" for April 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. New Date! 18 April 2006 On Thursday, May 18, 2006 the Alcohol Policy Network will be holding a teleconference on Bar Policies for Customers and Staff, and the CAMH Safer Bars Program. Space is limited, so register early to ensure enrollment. This will be followed by a listserv discussion moderated by Larry Grand, from May 18th through May 31st. 12 April 2006 Are you New to the Substance Abuse and Injury Prevention Field? Then register for the Newbie Orientation teleconference on Wednesday, April 26th. You will receive a quick overview of the SA/IP field and a "one-stop shopping" Newbie Orientation Toolkit with lots of resources, references, and contact points. Space in the teleconference is limited, so Register Early! 7 April 2006 The April "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 4 April 2006 The April ARAPO Update is now available online. 28 February 2006 The March ARAPO Update is now available online. The March "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 20 February 2006 The registration for the HEP teleconference on February 23rd is now closed. Powerpoint slides of the content, however, are available on our website. "Alcohol in the News" for February 1-15, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. The 2006 edition of the Directory of Substance Abuse and Injury Prevention Contacts in Public Health is now available in hard copy and also downloadable as PDFs. Thanks to all those who time to contribute, and to update their information. 10 February 2006 On March 3, 2006 the Alcohol Policy Network will be co-hosting the Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity 3 Forum. The focus will be on reviewing the emerging evidence on the links between alcohol promotion and risky drinking. 3 February 2006 APN is co-hosting a teleconference on Alcohol and Other Drug Strategies: Examples from provincial (HEP) and municipal (Toronto) initiatives on Thursday, February 23, 2006 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST. Enrollment is limited. Register online to ensure a spot. 2 February 2006 The February ARAPO Update is now available online. "Alcohol in the News" for January 16 - 31, 2006 has been posted to the website and the listserv. A new research report, The Effectiveness of Regulating Alcohol Advertising: Policies and Public Health [PDF] is available free of charge, and can be downloaded from our website. Printed copies can be obtained by contacting the ARAPO coordinator. 27 January 2006 The February "Issues to Watch" is now available online. A new policy paper, University and College Drinking and the Effects of Alcohol Policy: A Review of Alcohol Policies in Ontario's Universities and Colleges [PDF] is now available online. 16 January 2006 The QuickLinks section on the right side of our webpage now has a direct link to the Listserv Discussion Topics page. The current listserv discussion, "Changing the Liquor Licence Act: Access to alcohol, protecting public health", has an additional document for background reading (MADD Canada's Response to the LLA Discussion Guide). "Alcohol in the News" for December 16, 2005 - January 15, 2006 has been posted. 06 December 2005 The December "Issues to Watch" is now available online. A new listserv discussion has begun on the topic of Blood Alcohol Concentration Legislation. There are discussion questions, and The Elements of a workable 0.05% BAC Criminal Code Offence article as background reading. A new web page featuring online and print resources for Health Promotion Policies in Ontario. 31 October 2005 The November "Issues to Watch" is now available online. 18 October 2005 The background readings and powerpoint presentations for the Working with Pregnant First Nations Women on Substance Use Issues teleconference to be held Monday, October 24, 2005 are now available online. 17 October 2005 The Toronto Drug Strategy Report was released on Friday, October 14, 2005. It outlines a comprehensive approach to alcohol and other drugs in the City of Toronto, was released on Friday, 14 October. The report proposes a comprehensive strategy based on four components: prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement. The recommendations are organized by key themes identified during public consultations involving more than 350 people in Town Halls and focus groups. Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, said the Drug Strategy provides a very strong vision for co-ordinated action. "We need to step up our efforts, especially in prevention and harm reduction. The report sets a direction that will contribute to improving community safety and building stronger neighbourhoods." To read The Toronto Drug Strategy, and the accompanying documents – The Environmental Scan - Substance Use in Toronto: Issues, Impacts & Interventions, 2005, and the Public Consultation Summary, 2005 – please visit the Strategy’s website: http://www.toronto.ca/health/drugstrategy/index.htm The Toronto Drug Strategy will be presented to the Board of Health at its meeting of October 24, 2005. Residents of Toronto are welcome to make deputations on that date. If you wish to depute, please contact Francine Adamo, Board of Health Secretary, at 416-397-7766 or by email at boh@toronto.ca. 30 September 2005 The October Issues to Watch is now online. 1 September 2005 The Alcohol Policy Network is co-hosting a Newbie Orientation teleconference on Thursday, September 22, 2005 from 10:00 - 12:00 EDT. This interative session is directed primarily at professionals new to the substance abuse field. 31 August 2005 The Youth and Alcohol Media Literature Review [PDF] arising from the Risky Drinking Un-Conference held June 26-28, 2005 is now available online. September issue of Issues to Watch is now online. 27 July 2005 Slides for July 27th teleconference can be found at Alcohol Advertising and Youth. This is being followed up with a 10-day moderated listserv where the three presenters will answer any of your questions surrounding this topic. Check the listserv postings to see what is being discussed. If you wish to post a question, email it to "APOLNET-L [at] list.web.net" The latest issue of the Alcohol Research Quarterly is now available on the website. 19 July 2005 The Ontario Beverage Alcohol Review Panel has released its report, Strategy for Transforming Ontario's Beverage Alcohol System. The OPHA has issued a news release in response [PDF], and the Alcohol Workgroup has crafted a series of Questions and Answers [PDF] surrounding the issue of broadening the retail alcohol market. All links can be found in Information Packs under the Controls & Liability section. |