FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2019: Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is talking about the harms of alcohol in Dufferin County in a public awareness campaign, Last Call Dufferin. The campaign focuses on a series of candid videos featuring 10 individuals from Dufferin County who discuss the negative, and often irreversible, impacts of high-risk alcohol consumption.
The videos cover a variety of themes and perspectives related to alcohol, including problematic “mommy”-focused alcohol marketing, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), personal relationships, the strain on emergency resources, and health and safety repercussions.
“The rate of high-risk alcohol consumption in Dufferin County is higher than the provincial average, which is concerning,” said Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, Associate Medical Officer of Health at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, and one of the video participants. “Bringing light to the many negative impacts alcohol has on the safety and wellbeing of individuals and families in our community is crucial.”
The campaign includes stories from notable community members including, Officer Dave Scott with the Orangeville Police, Julie Elsdon-Height, author of the blog Sober Julie, Todd Taylor, Councillor at the Town of Orangeville, and Dr. Paul Scotton, emergency physician and Chief of ER at Headwaters Health Care Centre.
The videos, as well as community resources, can be found at alcoholstories.ca. Public Health encourages residents, organizations, and community leaders to help raise awareness of the harms of alcohol by sharing these powerful stories.
Last Call Dufferin builds upon the success of the Guelph and Wellington Last Call campaign which was launched in late 2017 and raised awareness of high-risk alcohol use in the City of Guelph and Wellington County.
Media Contact
Jessica Anselmini, Communications Specialist
1-800-265-7293 ext. 4377
jessica.anselmini@wdgpublichealth.ca