Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2003
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2003 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Geoff Cumming

BOOZE 'IS WORSE THAN DRUGS'

Heavy drinking remains a far bigger health threat for young New Zealanders 
than methamphetamine and other hard drug addictions, health experts say.

The consequences of soaring consumption by teens and young adults represent 
a hidden time bomb for the individual and for treatment services.

Whereas hard drug addictions quickly show themselves and can be treated 
soon enough to avoid long-term medical problems, the symptoms of chronic 
alcohol abuse are more likely to be irreversible. They include liver and 
heart disease, blood disorders and loss of cognitive function.

"With something like methamphetamine the consequences are so awful for most 
people that lifetime usage is very short," says Ian MacEwan, senior 
treatment adviser for the Alcohol Advisory Council (Alac). "People get very 
sick very quickly.

"Alcohol is a bigger problem in terms of numbers and because it's a chronic 
relapsing condition which individuals have for a long time."

Teenagers' consumption of alcohol has risen markedly in the last decade and 
since the lowering of the drinking age in 1999, alcohol overdose admissions 
to hospital emergency departments have soared.

Most overdoses are in the 20 to 25 years age bracket, says Dr Lynn Theron, 
an emergency medicine specialist at Auckland Hospital.

Dr Theron says an "astronomical" proportion of injuries treated at the 
emergency department are alcohol-related. "The number one problem is still 
alcohol."

A 2001 study found big increases in the number of intoxicated 18 and 
19-year-olds seen at the emergency department since the lowering of the 
drinking age with a worrying increase in the 15 to 17 years age group. 
Emergency medicine specialist Peter Jones says 35 per cent of people 
arriving at the emergency department are intoxicated "but we only see the 
tip of the iceberg".

"You only have to ask the North Shore police called out to parties where 
there are 300 people pissed. We may only see one of them at the emergency 
department."

Surveys of young Auckland drinkers show that the percentage of 14 to 
19-year-olds drinking more than six drinks on a typical session increased 
from 12 per cent to 25 per cent between 1990 and 1999.

Average consumption rose from three to four drinks a session to five to six 
drinks a session, with significant increases among 14 to 17-year-olds.

While it is too soon for alcohol-related chronic medical conditions to show 
up in younger hospital admissions, it is only a matter of time, says Dr Jones.

"We see a fair proportion of people in their mid-40s with things like liver 
failure and gastrointestinal bleeding. We also see a lot of homeless people 
with chronic alcohol abuse problems."

Dr Jones says the more liberal drinking laws seem totally at odds with the 
Government's stated primary health goals and the emphasis on illness 
prevention.

Alcohol is strongly associated with mouth, throat and liver cancers, as 
well as liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis and strokes.

Drug Foundation executive director Sally Jackman says increased binge 
drinking by young people shows up not just in poor health but in increases 
in unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, injuries and 
violent crime.

"The Government didn't adequately benchmark the consequences of youth 
drinking before lowering the drinking age."

While the Government has taken flak for raising the tax on light spirits, 
alcohol watchdogs and treatment agencies say the move is soundly based. 
Roger Eccles, a spokesman for Auckland Regional Alcohol and Drug Services, 
says price is a key determinant on alcohol consumption by young people.

"All the research suggests it's a very elastic relationship. Put up the 
price and the amount goes down, particularly with young people with fewer 
discretionary dollars."

Mr MacEwan says about 225,000 people meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol 
dependence and over 35,000 meet criteria for drug dependence over a 
six-month period.

But underfunded alcohol and drug agencies see only 10 to 12 per cent of 
people needing treatment at any one time. Mr MacEwan says treatment makes a 
positive difference for about a third of those who access services.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom