Alcohol Treatment within Kawartha Lakes, Ontario

Kawartha Lakes is a lightly populated area located North West of Peterborough that swells in size each summer. Problems of alcohol usage in the area revolve around summer drinking and driving infringements. Its relative distance from large city centers have resulted in lower than average service quality, though teenage alcohol abuse rates remain low.

Kawartha Lakes, with its small local population, faces budget restraints when considering services and facilities for alcohol – related treatment and enforcement. A focal point of law enforcement is summer drunk driving from non-resident individuals.

General Situation

Kawartha Lakes enjoys a lower than average drunk driving incident rate in off-season periods, but extremely high rates of drunk driving and resulting offences are recorded each summer. Crackdowns on illegal sales of alcohol have been effective in the region, though fundamental and systematic issues with tourists remain.

Kawartha Lakes faces a unique challenge when considering approaches to solving its alcohol – related issues, since a large percentage of its population does not live in the region year round. Adding to this a perennial focus on enforcement rather than education and outreach programs, and the situation appears to be on the brink of reversing past positive trends.

Teenage Alcohol Problems

The region of Kawartha Lakes faces lower than average teenage drinking and alcohol abuse rates, though summer statistics range greatly in comparison to winter numbers. Local outreach programs have been effective in reaching year-long residents, but non-resident tourist population teenage age groups tend to skew local alcohol abuse numbers.

Kawartha Lakes faces a unique problem with its mobile population, with enforcement on the roads a primary approach to dealing with drinking problems. Outreach programs extend to high school systems, but other education programs do not currently exist.

Driving While Impaired

Drunk driving in the region of Kawartha Lakes is a significant problem beginning in the spring each year. Recent crackdowns across the province have not yielded measurable results for the region. A perennial influx of party – goers and non-resident tourists tends to cause a majority of drunk driving problems, and local law enforcement struggle to contain the problems. Ride programs catch some potential issues, but a broader problem of education and outreach is lacking in the region.

Treating Alcoholic Addictions

Treating programs in Kawartha Lakes are minimal, and local patients requiring complicated therapy or long-term care are often referred to larger city centers for care or attending a an alcohol treatment program anywhere in Ontario. Treatment of alcohol – related problems in the summer is a significant problem, and one the local law enforcement agencies expect to face into the future. Most drug rehab treatment in Ontario also address alcoholism.

^{References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawartha_Lakes
http://www.thepost.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2460544}