For 36 years straight, alcohol controlled every day of local motorcycle mechanic Jacques Roussel's life.
At his worst, he would wake up in the morning and drink three beers before going to work. He would drink another three during lunch and then continue drinking when work was done in the evening. The thought of giving up the bottle he used to consider “unbearable.”
But that was before Oct. 7, 2007. That was the day he turned his back on his addiction and turned his life around for the better.
Twelve days earlier, his wife died because of a blood disorder that was complicated by alcohol. After the funeral, he drank steadily before he ended up in the hospital following two alcoholic seizures. He was told that he was lucky to be alive. Still, when he was released from the hospital all he could think about was getting home to have a drink. But something happened when he arrived home.
“When I got out of the hospital, going home, all I could think of was drinking. I was walking faster and faster to get home, but when I opened the door I froze solid,” the owner of JR Motorcycle and ATV Repair said.
It was that moment that made him decide to pour all of the alcohol in his home down the drain rather than down his throat. That's why he said he'll remember Oct. 7, 2007 forever.
Now, just over five years later, he is much healthier, has improved his relationships with others and owns his own business in Innisfail which he opened about one year after he quit drinking.
“I went from taking beer cans into the bottle depot on Saturday mornings on a pedal bike to owning a successful business, a brand new truck and a motorcycle. My life changed dramatically,” he said.
Roussel has lived in Innisfail since 1999. He said he remembers being known as the town drunk and often felt that he was wearing a giant Letter A above his head. Now he enjoys a favourable reputation as a good motorcycle mechanic. He is now 54 years old, but said he feels like he's just 20.
“Thanks to the Lord on this one,” he said of his sudden decision to give up alcohol.
Earlier this month, a study released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada's largest mental health and addiction treating hospital, revealed that alcohol is now the third leading cause of disease and injury around the globe, even though most adults do not drink booze. Two days later, the same organization released a national report that rated each Canadian province on their alcohol policies.
“Alcohol use is associated with injuries, chronic disease, cancer, and physical and sexual violence, and globally ranks third after high blood pressure and tobacco as a contributor to disease and disability,” said Centre for Addiction and Mental Health senior scientist Dr. Norman Giesbrecht. “It's a public health issue, and in order to reduce its harms, a combination of evidence-based policies and prevention strategies is required.”
Alberta ranked high in the hospital's report for having an alcohol-focused provincial strategy. Only Alberta and Nova Scotia can make that claim. Alberta also scored well for having a provincewide, mandatory server training program for staff at all public establishments.
Alberta also ranked high where physical availability is concerned. Alberta and B.C. both scored 7.5 out of 15 in that category, higher than the other provinces. But Roussel thinks that access to alcohol locally should be reduced.
“There's a liquor store on almost every street corner,” he said. “When the government privatized liquor stores they came up everywhere…. There's five or six within this town. Why do we need six liquor stores?”
He said there should be increased regulations. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health noted that there has been an erosion of controls in recent decades in several areas, including advertising and marketing, the privatization of outlets and increases in availability such as longer hours and the use of discounts to generate sales.
The hospital's report concluded that while Canada is a world leader in tobacco control and that many jurisdictions devote resources to reduce the risk of unhealthy eating and a lack of physical activity, there is significantly less attention paid to alcohol, particularly as a relevant health issue. It recommended a co-ordinated and collaborative approach among government and non-governmental organizations in order to reduce the harm from alcohol.
Roussel believes a major problem is that many people just don't know how to have fun without alcohol. He said he is living proof that that is not true, stating that his mood has improved dramatically since he gave up the bottle. His advice for those that have a problem with drinking is to seek help.
“Seek help from people who have been there and believe in a higher power.”
He recommended that youth stay away from alcohol altogether.
“What you don't know you'll never miss,” he said.
Alcoholics Anonymous meets three times per week in Innisfail. On Tuesdays, meetings take place at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. On Thursdays, meetings takes place at Innisfail United Church at 8 p.m. Meetings are held at Innisfail Alliance Church on Saturdays at 8 p.m.
