General Information on Prince Albert

Prince Albert, Sk., is the third largest city in Saskatchewan, with a population of slightly over 34,000 people. Located at the center of the province, along the banks of the Northern Saskatchewan River, it is considered the “Gateway to the North” as it is the last major center along way to northern Saskatchewan.

Although it is centrally located within the province, Prince Albert is the northern-most city in Saskatchewan. There is rich agricultural land to the south and the boreal forest to the north. The city was originally established as a mission center, Prince Albert is now the agricultural, forestry, mining, retail and service center to the northern region. Bio-fuels contribute significantly to the economy, as well as uranium mining and the government service sector.

Alcohol Addiction and Abuse in Prince Albert

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found that approximately 11 percent of Canadians suffer from problems with alcohol or drugs. Western provinces, including Saskatchewan, have rates higher than the national average. An estimated 14 percent of Saskatchewan’s residents have a drug or alcohol abuse problem—one of the highest prevalence rates in the country.

The Saskatchewan government released a report on substance abuse, prevention, and treatment, in which they reported that 78 percent of all Saskatchewan residents reported using alcohol, 14 percent of which was classified as ‘hazardous drinking’. Overall the rate of alcohol dependence varies across the province, with the greatest probability of developing an alcohol addiction problem in one of the large urban centers, such as Saskatoon and Regina, and in the northern regions, such as Prince Albert.

A health behaviours study on Saskatchewan’s students found that the majority of students drink alcohol: 25 percent drink regularly, 62 percent drink but not regularly, and 13 percent abstain altogether. Of those students who are drinking, about half reported using alcohol a few times a month. Girls tend to drink less often than boys, and less alcohol in a single sitting. Furthermore, researchers found a significant correlation between how often a student drinks and the number of alcoholic drinks consumed in a sitting.

Overall, after declining for many years, substance abuse in Saskatchewan’s youth is increasing again. Northern Saskatchewan experiences most of the substance abuse, due to its rapid population growth and high percentage of youth.

At Sobriety Home, we keep up-to-date on all the latest drug addiction research so that we can offer the best alcohol addiction treatment programs possible. New research allows us a better understanding of drug and alcohol addiction, resulting in better counselling, treatment, aftercare, and, ultimately, a more successful recovery process for you.