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

Who Answers?

We have a drinking problem, say Aussies

The majority of Australians say the nation has a drinking problem, new research reveals.

Almost 80 per cent of adults think Australians drink too much and 85 per cent want to see more action to address excessive drinking, a Galaxy survey commissioned by the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (AER) has found.

The survey showed a “marked increase” on a similar survey carried out in January last year which found 63 per of adults thought Australians drank too much.

It comes as another Galaxy survey revealed almost two thirds of Australians believe a second rejection of the federal government’s “alcopops” (ready to drink) tax would be an “illegitimate” reason to call a double dissolution.

The survey of more than 1,000 respondents, commissioned by the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA), found just 25 per cent of people thought it would be a legitimate reason to hold an election.

“The Australian public does not think a second rejection of the RTD (ready to drink) tax bill is any justification for an early election, DSICA spokesman Stephen Riden said in a statement.

Just over half of the respondents said they agreed with scrapping the tax and 73 per cent said the tax was an ineffective way of addressing binge drinking among young people.

But AER Chair Scott Wilson said there had been “a swing in attitude” away from excessive drinking after the federal government put binge drinking on the national agenda.

“We still have a way to go in seeing this attitudinal shift translate into firm action on the part of the community, the government, and the alcohol industry,” Mr Wilson said.

“However, it’s encouraging to finally see such widespread acknowledgement amongst the Australian public that we need to do something about our drinking problems.

“It seems clear that we are moving into a period when there is a new wave of responsibility emerging and this change is happening on numerous levels not least of which appears to be amongst the drinking community itself,” he said.

He said the alcopops tax, the National Preventative Health Taskforce and the new NHMRC guidelines had been critical to raising public awareness about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

source: The Age

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, largely affects the small children. In a global survey, it was found that the ADHD affects approximately 3 percent to 5 percent of all children. ADHD can be kept under control by proper treatment but only a few are aware that children suffering with ADHD are likely to carry the disorder….

Alcoholism among older people may be overlooked

As people age, they may tend to mix alcohol with prescription drugs. Disaster can ensue. Research suggests alcoholism among the elderly may not be diagnosed or is simply overlooked. Todd Wagner, clinical director at Blue Mountain Counseling in Dayton, said alcoholism among seniors is a growing problem, often going unnoticed. Maybe providers aren’t asking seniors….

Adventure helps boy beat alcohol problem

15-year-old who woke each morning wanting a drink has sobered up after therapy involving mountain biking and abseiling. The boy who spent eight months on a Christchurch City Mission adventure therapy course agreed to speak to The Press after an Otago University study into the care of young people with alcohol and drug problems. The….

Challenges in ADHD Treatment

treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

About ADHD and Treatment According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, ADHD is a mental illness distinguished by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in young people and it affects 9 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 17. However, it also diagnosed in adults, as an estimated 2….

Alcohol poisoning: The hard facts

Poisoning caused by binge drinking – drinking excessively within a short period. For men, that’s five standard-sized alcoholic beverages within two hours. For women it’s four or more standard-sized drinks, which is defined as a 12-ounce beer, a 5- ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink with one shot. With excessive drinking, the liver struggles….