Leaving the Party

Alcohol use is a feature of Canadian society, as is alcoholism, which is currently defined in the DSM-5 as alcohol use disorder (AUD). While statistics may help estimate quantitative AUD data such as disease and all-cause mortality as well as the costs of AUD on government resources, they cannot convey the qualitative suffering AUD inflicts on users, users’ family and friends, and even strangers – i.e., innocent bystanders still lose their lives to drunk drivers. The intent of this essay is to weave some AUD data into a non-fiction story that relies heavily on anecdotes from my own personal struggle with AUD, as well as insights gleaned from my family, friends, and coworkers. If statistics cannot sway others away from substance abuse, maybe putting a few faces on a few of those numbers can. I have changed the names, but anyone familiar with Edmonton’s bar scene will know who I’m talking about.