CCSA is excited to have received funding from Health Canada to lead an initiative to update Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines (LRDG). The updated guidelines will provide Canadians information to make well-informed and responsible decisions about their alcohol consumption. They will address the unique needs of specific target groups that are particularly at risk, such as youth, women and people with chronic diseases. We expect to release the new guidelines in 2022.
For more information about this project, please contact the project coordinator at llevett@ccsa.ca.
Project Background
Project Background
Since the original release of Canada’s LRDGs in November 2011, new evidence has been uncovered on alcohol-related mortality and morbidity. Research has also evolved on how drinking alcohol contributes to social harms. Other countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, recently updated their guidelines to reduce the health risks of alcohol consumption.
The LRDG update will be the result of a collaborative process among CCSA, scientists, knowledge mobilization specialists and representatives of various Canadian organizations, including Health Canada. The process will be consensual and based on co-operation. It will also be voluntary and flexible. All parties will participate with equal status and the expression of each parties’ points of views will be encouraged.
Project Committees
Executive Committee
| Rita Notarandrea, Co-chair | CEO, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Eric Costen, Co-chair | Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Canada |
| Scott Hannant | Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Anna Romano | Vice-President, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada |
| Taryn Walsh | Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, British Columbia |
| Frank Cesa | Director, Office of Alcohol Policy, Controlled Substances Directorate, Health Canada |
| Dr. Heather Morrison | Chief Public Health Officer, Prince Edward Island, and Chair, Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health |
| Dr. Sam Weiss | Scientific Director, Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
Two co-chairs have been selected to lead the Scientific Expert panels:
| Dr. Catherine Paradis, Co-chair | Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Dr. Peter Butt, Co-chair | Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan |
Knowledge Mobilization Expert Panel
| Dr. Justin Presseau | Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health and School of Psychology, University of Ottawa |
| Dr. Tim Stockwell | Scientist, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, and Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria |
| Dr. Erin Hobin | Scientist, Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario |
| Jennifer Heatley | Project Executive, Health Promotion, Department of Health and Wellness, Nova Scotia |
| Brittany Sauvé | Manager, Office of Alcohol Policy, Health Canada |
| Dr. Sharon Straus | Director, Knowledge Translation Program, Physician-in-Chief, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto |
| Dr. Danielle Buell | Chief Medical Resident, St. Michael’s Hospital |
Medical Effects Expert Panel
| Dr. Kevin D. Shield | Independent Scientist, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, and Head, World Health Organization/Pan-American Health Organization Collaborating, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health |
| Dr. Daniel Myran | Family Physician and Resident, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa |
| Dr. Adam Sherk | Postdoctoral Fellow, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria |
| Dr. Matthew Young | Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Frank Cesa | Director, Office of Alcohol Policy, Controlled Substances Directorate, Health Canada |
Mental Health and Social Effects Expert Panel
| Dr. Samantha Wells | Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University |
| Dr. Mark Asbridge | Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University |
| Dr. Kara Thompson | Assistant Professor of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University |
| Dr. Nancy Poole | Director, British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health |
| Dr. Tim Naimi | Director, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria |
| Frank Cesa | Director, Office of Alcohol Policy, Controlled Substances Directorate, Health Canada |
Working Group
| Dr. Hanie Edalati | Researcher, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Dr. Christine Lévesque | Researcher, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Dr. Alan Martino | Knowledge Broker, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Dr. Jennifer Reynolds | Knowledge Broker, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
Secretariat
| Lauren Levett | Project Coordinator, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
Method Advisors
| Dr. Marc Avey | Senior Manager, Global Health and Guidelines Division, Public Health Agency of Canada |
| Dr. Kate Morissette | Senior Epidemiologist, Global Health and Guidelines Division, Public Health Agency of Canada |
These expert panels will use an internationally recognized framework called the GRADE ADOLOPMENT approach. Using this evidence to decision framework for adoption, adaptation and de novo development of trustworthy recommendations will ensure that the latest and best scientific evidence is correctly and appropriately collected, analyzed, interpreted and reported in a transparent manner.
In addition, any potential conflicts of interests among members of the panels will be declared and managed according to the approach of the World Health Organization.
Project Activities
Project Activities
The table lists key activities and supporting documentation related to the development of the updated Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.
| Key Milestones and Activities | Date | Agenda |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation meeting | September 29–30, 2020 | Lower-Risk Drinking Guidelines 2.0: Orientation Sessions, September 29–30, 2020 |
| Launch meeting | September 17, 2020 | Virtual Kickoff meeting of the Low Risk Drinking Guidelines Update Project - Agenda September 17, 2020 |