Binge Drinking

Recently I have been reading some material to do with binge drinking and the increased abuse of alcohol by teenagers within Australia.

It is disappointing to hear about cases where teenagers are supplied with alcohol by older siblings or by parents to attend parties or celebrations. Is it provided because these children cannot enjoy themselves without drinking alcohol? This is not only breaking the law it is placing these loved ones at risk.

Some deafening facts have been presented by the National Binge Drinking Campaign.

Statistics regarding alcohol related harms include:

• An estimated 2,643 young people aged between 15 and 24 years died from an alcohol-attributable injury and disease caused by risky or high risk drinking during 1993 and 2002.
• Alcohol is a major contributing cause of violence in Australia.  Last year more than three-quarters of a million Australians were physically abused by persons under the influence of alcohol.
• In NSW 45% of all assaults in the year up to September 2007 were alcohol-related, equating to 33,147 cases.
• Young people aged between 15 and 24 years account for 52% of all alcohol-related serious injuries and 32% of all alcohol-attributable hospital admissions for injuries caused by violence.
• The number of young women aged 18-24 being admitted to hospitals because of alcohol has doubled in the last eight years.
• The most common causes for alcohol-attributable death for young people aged 15-24 years are road injury (males 52%, females 37%), suicide (males 19%, females 22%) and assault (males 7%, females 20%).
• Four Australians under 25 die due to alcohol related injuries in an average week.
• On average, one in four hospitalisations of people aged 15-24 happen because of alcohol.

For people aged 18 years and under:

• The risks of accidents, injuries, violence and self-harm are high among drinkers aged under 18 years.
• Risk-taking behaviour, unsafe sex choices, sexual coercion and alcohol overdose increase when adolescents drink alcohol.
• Initiation of alcohol use at a young age may increase the likelihood of negative physical and mental health conditions, social problems and alcohol dependence.
• Regular drinking in adolescence is an important risk factor for the development of dependent and risky patterns of use in young adulthood. Childhood and adolescence are critical times for brain development and the brain is more sensitive to alcohol-induced damage during these times, while being less sensitive to cues that moderate alcohol intake.
• Self-reported harm scores show that drinkers under the age of 15 years are much more likely than older drinkers to experience risky or antisocial behaviour connected with their drinking, with the rates also somewhat elevated among drinkers aged 15-17 years.

The law

• It is illegal for someone under the age of 18 to drink or buy alcohol in most states.
• Even getting someone who is 18 to buy or supply alcohol in a licensed venue or public place is illegal in most states. The person supplying the alcohol could be fined.
• Excessive drinking can lead to alcohol-related violence and assault, and could lead to a criminal record or fines for those persons found guilty of an offence.
• In some states if you are a learner or provisional driver, having ANY alcohol in your system is illegal. Drink driving puts the driver, passengers, pedestrians and other drivers at serious risk.
• Losing your license from drink driving or having a criminal record from alcohol-related assault or violence will impact on your life more than you think. It can limit future job opportunities.

Solutions to these community problems can be found if everyone takes a stand and we work together to redirect behaviours.  If you have the time please look at the web link below. There are many strategies and suggestions that may be of help.

Mr Scott Young
Acting Principal

References

Australian Department of Health and Aging

http://www.drinkingnightmare.gov.au/internet/drinkingnightmare/publishing.nsf/Content/home