Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Campaign tackles binge drinking

A new campaign has been launched in New South Wales aimed at curbing binge drinking.

The $1 million anti-binge drinking campaign “What Are You Doing To Yourself?” targets the 16-20 year old age group and aims to stop young people from engaging in risky behaviour which is fuelled by alcohol.

The campaign includes advertisements to be displayed on public transport, in cafes and in pub toilets, shows young people in social environments and demonstrates how getting drunk can change personalities and behaviour and will target six areas across the state, including inner-city Sydney, the eastern beaches, the northern beaches, Parramatta, Newcastle and Orange.

According to NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca, figures show an 130% increase in alcohol-related emergency department admissions since 2000 mostly among 18-24 year olds and the campaign aims to prompt a cultural change in young people’s attitude to risky drinking.

Mr Della Bosca says the campaign’s key message is that everyone has to take personal responsibility for their own behaviour when socialising but the launch comes at the same time as a new beverage aimed at younger drinkers hits the market that is designed to bypass the federal government’s alcopop laws.

Apparently the Smirnoff Platinum drink which looks like a vodka mixer, contains six per cent alcohol, and is actually a mutant beer, which means it evades the alcopop tax on pre-mix spirits increasing their cost by around 70%.

The Health Minister has targeted alcohol manufacturers and says the way they advertise their products is harmful and says approximately 264 young Australians between the age of 15-24 die every year as the result of risky alcohol consumption.

Former Olympian 29 year old Geoff Huegill says he supports the project and says athletes have not always set the best example for young people when it comes to binge drinking.

He says he has himself changed his ways and has cut out irresponsible drinking as part of his swimming comeback plan and wants to encourage young people to follow his lead.

The campaign has the support of DrinkWise Australia, a not-profit organisation aimed at promoting safe drinking habits.

source: News Medical

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Program sets record straight on underage drinking

There’s good news and there’s bad news when it comes to underage drinking in Pee Dee. The good news is that incidents of underage drinking seem to be on the decline. The bad news is that those who do drink are drinking more than ever, according to Circle Park Prevention Services data. “We’ve have some….

Bill seeks proof of rehab home compliance

Senate Health Committee expected to consider bill that would cause facilities to prove they meet certain licensing requirements. A bill that would create more hurdles for drug and alcohol programs seeking licenses from the state is making its way through the California State Assembly. Assembly Bill 2903 would make recovery homes offer proof to the….

5 Dangers Associated with Teenagers and Alcohol Abuse

About Teenagers and Alcohol Abuse According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 10.4 million people between the age of 12 and 20 had tried alcohol by age 15, and at least fifty percent of teenagers have had at least one full drink. Furthermore, by age 18, more than 70% of teens….

Personal intervention can cut binge drinking

A new study from The University of Texas School of Public Health has found that brief and personal intervention can significantly reduce drinking among risky college drinkers. The researchers found that motivational interviewing with feedback (MIF) significantly reduced drinking among a group of heavy-drinking college students. The MIF intervention includes a personalized feedback profile and….

Recognizing the Signs of Drug Relapse Post Drug Treatment

If you have already completed drug treatment or if someone you love has completed treatment at a treatment center then you probably think that things are perfect, on the right track and can never go back to what they were. Unfortunately, if you aren’t ready to recognize the early warning signs of drug relapse after….