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DRINKING a glass of wine in your own home could be illegal under extreme new liquor laws that rubber-stamp the use of no-go alcohol zones in NSW.
Stirring up images of 1930s’ prohibition in the US, the Iemma Government is using the total ban on alcohol in some Aboriginal communities as a blueprint.
THE scourge of alcohol abuse across Australia is far worse than previously thought, with one in five 16- and 17-year-olds now binge-drinking in any given week and nearly 500,000 children living at risk of exposure to an adult drinking at harmful levels.
The figures on cannabis use are equally disturbing, with one in seven secondary school students using the drug within the past 12 months.
The problem has been allowed to reach such plague proportions because most Australians consider drinking and drug use by young people to be a normal activity and “often seen as a rite of passage to adulthood”, Australian National Council on Drugs chairman John Herron warns.
I think my dad might be an alcoholic, how can I help?
Alcoholism is a disease. An alcoholic is someone who cannot control his drinking. He can learn to control his behaviour, but as of yet there is no cure for alcoholism. The person who is drinking too much may not see his drinking as a problem. He may blame other things for his behaviour and drinking, such as pressure at work, friends and family causing him stress or money issues. These pressures may be true, but the real problem is usually the alcohol.
Read the full article I think my dad might be an alcoholic, how can I help?
Alcohol related brain damage
Acquired brain injury refers to any brain damage that happens after birth. Alcohol is one of the many causes of acquired brain injury. The injury inflicted by alcohol abuse is referred to as alcohol related brain injury (ARBI). More than 2,500 Australians are treated for ARBI every year. Just how much damage is done depends on a number of factors. These include individual differences, as well as the person’s age, gender, nutrition and their overall pattern of alcohol consumption.
A person with ARBI might experience problems with memory, cognitive abilities and physical coordination. A younger person has a better chance of recovery because of their greater powers of recuperation. However, the effects of alcohol related brain injury can be permanent for many sufferers.
Alcohol and brain injury
Brain injury can be caused by alcohol because it:
* Has a toxic effect on the central nervous system.
* Results in changes to metabolism, heart functioning and blood supply.
* Interferes with the absorption of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which is an important brain nutrient.
* May be associated with poor nutrition.
* Can cause dehydration, which may lead to wastage of brain cells.
* Can lead to falls and accidents that injure the brain.
Read the full article Alcohol related brain damage – Better Health Channel
Alcoholism – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alcoholism is generally defined as the consistent and excessive consumption of and/or preoccupation with alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with an individual’s normal personal, family, social, or work life. Alcoholism can potentially result in psychological and physiological conditions, as well as, ultimately, death. Alcoholism is one of the world’s most costly drug use problems. With the exception of nicotine addiction, alcoholism is more costly to most countries than all other drug use problems combined.[citation needed]
While alcohol abuse is a prerequisite for what is defined as alcoholism, the biological mechanism of alcoholism is uncertain. For most people, alcohol consumption poses little or no danger of addiction. Other factors generally contribute for alcohol use to develop into alcoholism. These factors may include a person’s social environment, emotional health and genetic predisposition.
Read the full article Alcoholism – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia