PIKE CALL to ACTION on MOUNT ALEXANDER Alcohol Abuse

Media release From the Minister for Health

Wednesday, 21 June 2006 PIKE CALL TO ACTION ON MOUNT ALEXANDER ALCOHOL ABUSE

Alcohol-related illnesses and injuries claimed the lives of 10 Mount Alexander residents, the Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said today.

And in a one-year period alcohol caused 85 hospital admissions for Mount Alexander Shire residents, in addition to 58 instances of family violence, 32 assaults and nine serious road injuries over three years, she said.

The Mount Alexander deaths were among 3000 Victorians dying over a four-year period (2000 – 2003) from alcohol-related illnesses and injuries, according to startling new statistics released today by Ms Pike.

“Alcohol abuse is hitting our hospitals hard with almost 9,000 emergency presentations across the State in 2004/05 – a frightening 35 percent increase over five years,” Ms Pike said.

She said an average of 10 Mount Alexander Shire residents died from alcohol-related causes over the four years – the latest figures available.

Ms Pike was releasing the Victorian Alcohol Statistics Handbook – a comprehensive snapshot of the negative social impacts of alcohol abuse in each Victorian municipality – at the launch of Australia’s first Centre for Alcohol Policy Research.

“The Centre, headed by Professor Robin Room, Chair of Social Policy Research in Alcohol at the University of Melbourne, places Victoria at the forefront of research and policy development in alcohol issues,” Ms Pike said.

“The Centre will play a vital role in helping Victoria tackle the serious issue of alcohol abuse in the community, helping dispel myths that alcohol is not as harmful and addictive as illegal substances and provide strategic advice on social alcohol reforms.”

The Handbook, published by the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, details the number of alcohol-related deaths, assaults, domestic violence incidents and road injuries.

Ms Pike said the results from the Handbook were alarming, providing all Victorians with a serious wake-up call on their alcohol consumption and its effects on the community.

“Alcohol is second only to tobacco as a drug that causes high levels of disease and death,” Ms Pike said.

Media contact: Melea Tarabay (03) 9096 7751/ 0407 860 687 1/2 “The Bracks Government is committed to reducing the levels of alcohol abuse in the community and driving home, through awareness and education, that alcohol can cause serious harm to the drinker, their family and the community.”

Ms Pike said rural Victoria was feeling the social impacts of alcohol abuse more than those in metropolitan regions.

“Alcohol is a social legal drug but with that comes the responsibility and the necessity to use it sensibly. I would urge all Victorians to ensure that their enjoyment of alcohol is not at the expense of individual or community harm,” Ms Pike said.

The Victorian Alcohol Statistics Handbook – A Summary of Alcohol-Related harm for all Victorian Local Government Areas 2005 can be downloaded from www.turningpoint.org.au

A snapshot of the State’s alcohol- related harm statistics from 2002 - 2004

 There were 2,879 alcohol-related deaths in Victoria (a rate of 1.49 per 10,000 residents) with higher rates recorded in Barwon-South Western and Gippsland regions (1.84 and 1.93 per 10,000 respectively).

 There were 9,445 alcohol-related assaults in Victoria (9.65 per 10,000 residents), with the rate higher in all of the non-metropolitan regions.

 There were 15,465 alcohol-related family incidents in Victoria (15.80 per 10,000 residents). The highest rate of alcohol-related family incidents were reported in Gippsland region (24.22 per 10,000 residents per year).

 Alcohol intoxication is a major contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes in Victoria. Road accidents due to alcohol consumption most commonly occur during the weekends between: From Friday 4pm – Saturday 8am and Saturday 4pm – Sunday 8am.

 There were 3,346 alcohol-related serious road injuries (3.42 per 10,000 residents). The lowest rate of alcohol related serious road injury was in Barwon South Western region with a rate of 2.84 per 10,000 residents.

 Alcohol related hospital admissions include admissions that are typically associated with long-term heavy alcohol consumption such as stroke, hypertension, cancer and mental and behavioural disorders. There were 13,234 admissions in Victoria (a rate of 26.92 per 10,000).

Media contact: Melea Tarabay (03) 9096 7751/ 0407 860 687 2/2