One in six youth deaths caused by alcohol: report

ALMOST one in six deaths amongst young Australians can be attributed to the irresponsible consumption of alcohol, research by the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) has revealed.

In figures released today, the study shows that 2,643 people aged between 15 and 24 died from alcohol-attributable injury and disease between 1993 and 2002 around 15 per cent of all deaths in the age group.

Young people most at risk live in rural areas, and by region in either the Northern Territory or Western Australia.

The latest National Alcohol Indicators Bulletin, compiled by the Perth-based NDRI, also showed 22 per cent of injuries which lead to young people being hospitalised could also be traced back to risky drinking.

More than 100,000 youngsters were hospitalised for an alcohol related illness or injury between 1993 and 2002, the research found.

Tanya Chickarees, NDRI research fellow and alcohol policy team leader said a number of states and territories had shown an increase in alcohol-attributable deaths, following a period of national decline in the 1990s.

"There was a really encouraging decline in deaths and hospitalisations up until about 2000, but now we are just starting to see a reverse," Ms Chickarees said.

"A great amount of tax is generated from alcohol, but we are starting to think now that the costs are so high, attributable to alcohol, that what is made, the profit, is becoming less (important)."

Dr Chickarees said one of the most marked changes in recent years was the increase in drinking deaths and injury amongst young Australian women.

The institute believed this could be attributed to changes to tax on pre-mixed drinks in 2000.

"Pre-mixed drinks essentially became cheaper for young women than what used to be their preferred beverage, straight spirits or bottled wine," Ms Chickarees said.

"These pre-mixed beverages in my opinion are targeted at young people, and when this tax change happened, there was a massive increase in sales.

"Surveys around the country have been saying that young women are drinking more than they ever have, and we are now bearing our more evidence to support that."

Amongst other findings in the research were that a man was four times more likely to die from an alcohol-attributable death than a women, while the most common causes of alcohol-attributable death for young people were road injury, suicide and violence.

Young indigenous Australians are more than twice as likely as their non-indigenous counterparts to die from alcohol-attributable causes.

Death rates among indigenous youth have not improved in the last eight years, the study concluded.

The rate of alcohol-attributable death among young people who live in non-metropolitan areas is about 1.7 times greater than for their city dwelling counterparts.

The study showed the Northern Territory has the highest number of alcohol-attributable deaths among 15-24 year olds, with 4.0 deaths per 10,000, while WA had the second highest rate, 1.3 per 10,000.

The ACT, with 0.6 deaths per 10,000 had the lowest national rate.

The National Alcohol Indicators Bulletin was released ahead of next week's APSAD "Beyond the Drug" 2004 National Conference, being held in Fremantle, where national and international speakers will present research on drug and alcohol issues.

By Mad Broth 12 November 04

Alcohol is just the beginning
People who start using alcohol by there mid teens are more than twice as likely as others to experiment with different drugs and to become dependent on drugs a major Australian study has found. The research, which fuels growing concern about alcohol-related harm, is the latest to consider the contentious question of whether alcohol is a "gateway" to hard drug use.

Abra Cadabra
No magic bullet? This is a chronic condition! Government's Legal Drug alcohol is costing Australia billions: study.

Wine glut alert!
Wine glut alerts bank to grape grower debt and we need to be aware there's no magic bullet here either, it is a chronic condition just like the other one?

You're one of my kind?
Over 80% of the population consumed alcohol in the previous 12 months, with 11% of males and 6% of females drinking daily. In terms of risk of harm in the long term, 10% of males and 9% of females drank alcohol in a pattern that was risky or high risk. In terms of short-term risk, 24% of males and 17% of females drank at least once a month in a manner that was risky or high risk for short-term harm.

Tobacco, alcohol top the drug abuse toll
Tobacco and alcohol accounted for 83 per cent of the cost of drug abuse in Australia, dwarfing the financial impact of illegal drugs, a Commonwealth Government report has found.

Alcohol pickles your brain
Pickle point; a leading professor Dr. Bud said after releasing his report on the problems associated with alcohol.

Submissions to the Inebriates Inquiry?
The Act allows detention of inebriates in proclaimed places, which no longer exist. The chief magistrate, Derek Price probably kicked it off with his submission to the Alcohol Summit. He also gave evidence, which was basically 'Repeal the act as it does not work, and get a new act based on the Mental Health Act'.

Australian drivers licence dangerous weapon
We have the photo, the random gun searches, the random drugs searches, the alcohol breath test, and now the drug test that doubles as a DNA swab.

Sentencing innovation breaks vicious circle of jail terms
"Three months' jail for one punch in a pub fight is too much," said the victim. The victim's comment counted because he and the offender, Robert Bolt, a Nowra Aborigine, were making history in the first case of circle sentencing, a new way of deciding punishment for indigenous offenders.

Redfern police need education not weapons
According to the description of one senior police officer, the ACLO called out on the afternoon before the Redfern violence escalated was "hopeless, intoxicated and had no driver's licence."

Poison Ivy: Drugs and Substances
Everything is a drug love, money, vegemite, and honey so why the hang up on coke? Things go better with Coke. at least that's what we're told each and every day by advertising. [?] So why the big hang up on alcohol, amphetamines, cigarettes, marijuana, speed, ecstasy and cocaine?

CWA wants pot legalised
PERCEIVED as the height of conservatism, the Country Women's Association has had a reputation for baking and handicrafts until now. The organisation yesterday confirmed it is seeking to have cannabis legalised for health reasons. A recommendation to be put forward to the annual meeting in May calls for the legalisation of the drug for the treatment of terminally ill patients.

Another lethal party drug article...This is another lethal party drug article by the Daily Telegraph's (DT)'s Super Crime Buster Division, but I'll try to straighten it out a bit so you can understand it.

Alcohol and other Drug Use in Australia
Over 80% of the population consumed alcohol in the previous 12 months, with 11% of males and 6% of females drinking daily. In terms of risk of harm in the long term, 10% of males and 9% of females drank alcohol in a pattern that was risky or high risk. In terms of short-term risk, 24% of males and 17% of females drank at least once a month in a manner that was risky or high risk for short-term harm.

Alcohol Poisoning

Call to update suicide prevention strategy: study

UNDERSTANDING & BUILDING RESILIENCE IN THE SOUTH WEST PROJECT

A four-year study of suicides by people under the age of 18 in New South Wales, has found little difference between rates of suicide in rural and regional areas and cities.

The report says the suicide prevention strategy must be updated to acknowledge the stress of expectation on students sitting the higher school certification (HSC) is a factor in youth suicide.

But going to war with Iraq and threats by police and the media suggesting we should be alert of something suspicious were not even considered?

Commissioner for Children And Young People Gillian Calvert says another important area to address is to challenge the myth people who say they are going to commit suicide will not actually do it.

"Those young people did go on to commit suicide so we need to challenge that myth in the community and say, if someone is telling you that they are going to commit suicide, take it seriously and seek help," Commissioner Calvert said. "The second aspect of that is that the kids often told other kids but made them promise that they wouldn't tell - it's the one promise that you should break."

Lucky Door Prize

Close your eyes.
What can you see?
Nothing?
So without you there is no beauty.
Then Repeat After Me!
You're nearly as good-looking as I am!
Go on tell your friends..You're nearly as good looking as I am.
Because I am special to me and everyone else is equal to me.

LUCKY!

By Psych Ology 23 Jan 03

THE EGG: War is stress. In an otherwise difficult time children want to see a future. Add the burden of war and that may be too much for them? Teaching children to solve problems instead of solving problems for them is another way to prevent them giving up on life too easily.

Related:

The punishment: Is the 'crime'
The punishment is the crime according to retired chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia Justice Alistair Nicholson. "Smacking a child ought to be seen as assault".

The Seed
Respect, you only get out what you have put in. What about Life Skills, Communication and Conflict Resolution. Evolution, perhaps some children and adults miss the whole or part of the course. I did, and so how surprised do you think I was when I realised my parents missed the course as well. Things like Compromise, Win Win, Empathy, and Love. Invisible energy and other skills like public speaking, how to Relate, Assuming, Blaming, Forgiveness, Freedom and Discrimination. This is how I learned respect. If you don't know what it is then how do you relate?

Youth Suicide
I would like to suggest firstly that starting at the root in a holistic pattern so that everyone in our community is included and a seed is planted to prevent our youth dying.

The Tree of Dreams
Come make a wish. I know it will come true, it did for me...