Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research

The stats don’t lie: Alcohol remains a leading cause of preventable death, injury, and disability across Canada. But here in BC where alcohol consumption is higher than average, this reality hits even closer to home.

Drawing from research expertise and data from the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), the Office of the Provincial Health Officer has released "Living Well, Drinking Less: Reducing Alcohol Harms in BC”, a report documenting alcohol’s impact on British Columbians.

💬 “It was a pleasure to work with Dr. Bonnie Henry and her office on this report, and we applaud the provincial health officer and her team for taking a detailed look at this important public-health issue.” - Tim Naimi, Director of CISUR.

🔗 Learn what’s in the report: https://ow.ly/U3MY50Z4Vic

Our latest episode of Under the Influence: Substance Use and Society is out now!

In this episode, we explore Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, public awareness of alcohol-related risks, and how these conversations led to the launch of KnowAlcohol.ca in January 2025, a digital resource designed to help Canadians better understand the health impacts of alcohol.

Alcohol, a Group 1 carcinogen, is consumed by nearly 80% of people in Canada, yet many remain unaware of its connection to cancers such as breast and colon cancer. So, what happens when we try to address alcohol use at a population level through personalized risk communication and knowledge tools?

Join guests Andrea Cowan and Dr. Tim Naimi as they discuss alcohol normalization, public health messaging, and the research behind , including how personalized information about health risks, costs, and consumption patterns can help Canadians make more informed decisions about drinking.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3lnIVN0rkVmpQqPUp2tYP8
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/3-knowalcohol-ca-all-about-alcohol-the-knowledge/id1896604119?i=1000768580015