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Australians Experiencing More Alcohol-Related Problems

A new study finds that at least one in five Australians (or 3.5 million individuals) is experiencing alcohol-related problems, including abuse, dependency, and behavioral problems. Australia’s national rate of alcohol abuse is now one of the highest among the world, parallel to New Zealand and the United States. Despite the high prevalence of alcohol-related problems, the study also finds that Australians are very reluctant to seek treatment. Researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of South West Wales, Sydney, have reported on Australians’ lifetime alcohol use in their latest study published online in the scientific journal Addiction.

Lead researcher Professor Maree Teesson and colleagues based their findings on the 2007 National Survey on Mental Health and Wellbeing which is conducted every ten years. Since the last survey, researchers found that rates of drinking among both males and females had dramatically increased, but the number of Australians with alcohol problems seeking treatment had virtually remained the same.

Over 9,000 Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 responded to the survey. Researchers found that 22% of Australians had an alcohol use disorder, with 18.3% having alcohol abuse, and 3.9% having alcohol dependence throughout their lifetime. Most surprisingly, almost half of Australians experiencing an alcohol use disorder (42%) also have a comorbid mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. Despite this high prevalence, only 22.4% of Australians affected by alcohol-related problems had sought treatment for their alcohol use disorder.

Men were much more likely than women to be experiencing an alcohol-related problem; almost one-third of men were found to have an alcohol use disorder sometime during their lifetime, compared to 12% of women. Young men (ages 16–24) were 2.5 times more likely to currently be experiencing an alcohol use disorder than the rest of the population. Eleven percent of young men reported symptoms of alcohol-related disorders within the past 12 months of the survey. Researchers also noted a significant increase in risky drinking behavior among men ages 20–29; men of this age group were 1.7 times more likely than older men to engage in risky alcohol use.

On the other hand, women between the ages of 30 and 40 showed a significant increase in their alcohol use than previous generations. Even though their alcohol consumption had increased, women did not show any increase in their risky drinking behavior. Australians who were married or from a non-English speaking background were the least likely to have alcohol-related problems.

The researchers point out that more effective intervention and prevention methods are needed to reach young men—the group most affected by alcohol use disorders. However, even though currently available behavioral health resources were found to be successful in treating substance abuse, researchers noticed that individuals with alcohol abuse or addiction are hesitant to seek treatment due to the stigma surrounding substance abuse disorders. Similar domestic and international campaigns have made headway in decreasing the stigma surrounding certain mental health issues such as depression; but admitting to a substance abuse disorder is still generally considered to be a sign weakness or shame among the Australian population.

Researchers mention that resources for substance abuse treatment are either not readily available, or are not considered to be reliable by most alcohol-abusing Australians. The study’s researchers suggest that more needs to be done to improve access and funding for alcohol treatment resources so that more individuals in need are encouraged to seek treatment. If alcohol abusing individuals—particularly those at high risk—refuse to seek treatment, they can face even more detrimental consequences such as threats to their mental health, physical wellbeing, personal relationships, and functionality. Individuals with alcohol use disorders who do not receive treatment are also prone to risky behavior such as drunk driving, violence, abuse, child neglect, and crime.

Not only does substance abuse treatment have the ability to help treat individuals’ personal problems, but it can also prevent future consequences that may occur to themselves or others around them.

Sources: The University of New South Wales, Australia Receives Poor Alcohol Report Card, August 10, 2010

The Sydney Morning Herald, Danny Rose, One in five experience drinking problems, August 10, 2010