Footprints across the Territory

Remote Alcohol & Other Drugs Workforce Northern Territory

Alcohol

1

Footprints across the Territory

Why do People Drink?

There are lots reasons why people use alcohol.

Can participants name some of the reasons people drink alcohol.

Many people drink at low risk levels and this does not cause them or those around them any harms.

To understand why alcohol can be a problem you need to know how alcohol works and some of the risks of using alcohol.

2

Footprints across the Territory

The effects of Alcohol

Good

Feel relaxed Feel less self conscious More confident Sleep better Less shame when

dancing

Not so good

Drunk Hard to concentrate Slowed time to react Poor muscle control Confusion Less co-ordination Blurred vision Feeling sick & vomiting Aggression or sadness

3

Footprints across the Territory

What is Alcohol

4

Footprints across the Territory

Understanding Alcohol as a Drug

A ‘Drug’ is anything except food & water which when taken alters the way the body functions

physically and/or mentally.*

Source - *WHO, 1981 www.who.int

5

Footprints across the Territory

Alcohol is …….

A poison – it can poison the heart muscle and other organs of the body

Pure alcohol is called ethyl alcohol

It is tasteless, colourless and odourless

Very poisonous and a spoonful would kill a child

6

Footprints across the Territory

Where the effect is

7

Footprints across the Territory

Alcoholand Health

Drinking alcohol increases the risk factors of short and long term health and wellbeing problems for

Men, Women and Young People.

8

Footprints across the Territory 9

Footprints across the Territory 10

Footprints across the Territory

Other risk factors People not eating properly or drinking enough water

No money left for essentials (power card, clothes, rent)

Grog-related dementia (people can’t remember who their family and friends are)

Trouble with the law (lose driver’s licence)

Can lead to more serious chronic disease like diabetes, and liver damage

11

Footprints across the Territory

Risk factors for the community

Domestic Violence

Babies being born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Car accidents resulting in serious injury and grief and loss issues for family

Children not being looked after and not going to school

People not engaged with community and culture

12

Footprints across the Territory

The risk of Withdrawal

When people have been drinking a lot of alcohol for a long time they feel bad when they stop drinking

This is called having withdrawals - this is also known as being ‘Grog Sick’

Grog sickness makes people feel bad so sometimes people keep drinking to make the feelings of withdrawal or grog sickness go away or to stop them happening

Withdrawal without medical supervision is dangerous

13

Footprints across the Territory

The risk of Withdrawal

It is important for people who drink a lot of alcohol to go and see their health worker, nurse or doctor before they stop drinking

For people who do drink a lot it is sometimes better to cut back how much they are drinking slowly before they try to stop

Having withdrawals can make it hard to stop drinking but there are things that can be done to help

14

Standard drink guidelines

15

Footprints across the Territory

The guidelines say, a standard drink is…

Any drink that contains 10 grams of alcohol

30 ml vodka shooter has 10 grams of alcohol in it and is a “Standard Drink”

A swimming pool with that same vodka shooter poured into it is also a “Standard Drink”

It is not about volume, its about how much alcohol.

Look on the side of a container – all commercial alcohol sold in Australia must have the number of standard drinks in it

16

Footprints across the Territory 17

Footprints across the Territory

A standard drink

It takes one hour for a healthy body to get rid of a standard drink. So if you have one standard drink at 5pm, your body has absorbed it around 6pm, and gone by 7pm.

This varies widely due to factors like age, gender, weight, other health issues i.e. renal, diabetes, food consumed, poly drug use (taking more than one drug).

18

Footprints across the Territory

Guidelines for Men

Having no more than 2 standard drinks a day reduces the risk of harm from alcohol-related diseases and injury. Drinking more than this increases the risk.

Having no more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury.

19

Footprints across the Territory

Guidelines for Women

Having no more than 2 standard drinks a day reduces the risk of harm from alcohol-related diseases and injury. Drinking more than this increases the risk.

Having no more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury.

20

Footprints across the Territory

Why are the guidelines the same

Because it’s not about being a Man or a Women it’s about the factors which cause someone to be more or less affected by alcohol.

Weight (a bigger person may be less affected than a smaller person)If someone has eaten food before or while they drinkIf someone is taking medication (alcohol is not good when people are taking medication)If someone has an underlying health problems (like diabetes and liver problems) Someone with good health may be less affected than someone with poor health

21

Footprints across the Territory

Guidelines for pregnant & breastfeeding Women

Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink.

Women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest way.

22

Footprints across the Territory

Why are these guidelines different

No study has found a safe level of drinking for pregnant and breastfeeding women

Alcohol can stay in breast milk for several hours

Drinking alcohol when you are pregnant can increase the risk of miscarriage, lower birth weight, premature birth and still birth

Drinking can cause Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) which causes brain damage to the baby, emotional and developmental delays, behaviour problems and learning difficulties for life

23

Footprints across the Territory

Guidelines for young people

Persons under 15 years are at greatest risk of harm from drinking.

People aged 15 – 17 years should delay the initiation of drinking for as long as possible because the brain is still developing.

24

Footprints across the Territory

Why are these guidelines different

Research has found that a young person’s brain is still growing and developing and they are more likely to take risks than older people.

Drinking alcohol when you’re young may cause brain damage like remembering, solving problems and cause mental health problems like depression.

When young people start drinking early they are likely to drink more and drink more often as they get older

25

Footprints across the Territory

Who can helpIf you are worried about a family member or your own alcohol use, you can see a:

Remote AOD Worker (RAODW)

Aboriginal Health Practitioner (AHP)

Clinic Nurse

Clinic Doctor

26

Footprints across the Territory

How can people access these services

Call the community health centre in your town and make an appointment

Come and see us at the health centre to make an appointment

Your Doctor or Nurse can refer you to the AOD worker

Ngurra Tjutaku Palyapayi: everyone’s home, working together for good.

27

Footprints across the Territory

The End Any Questions

Thank you for listening

If you would like to know about Remote AOD Workforce Program and our resources

Please call us on(08) 8958 2503

Or visit the websitewww.remoteaod.com.au

28

Footprints across the Territory

References & acknowledgements

Sources Information Alcohol - produced by Australian Drug Foundation (ADF), 2011Strong Mind Strong Spirit – Aboriginal Ways of Reducing Harm From Alcohol and Other Drugs – Government of WA Drug and Alcohol Office, 2010

GraphicsSlides 8, 9, 10 - Strong Mind Strong Spirit Aboriginal Alcohol & Other Drugs Program (2010)Slide 17 – What is a standard drink – www.druginfo.adf.org.au Slide 20 – Talking about Alcohol with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Patients – Illustrations Julie Haysom Slide 22 & 24 – Strong Mind Strong Spirit Aboriginal Alcohol & Other Drugs Program (2010)Slide 26 - Illustrations by Patrick Bayly from National Cannabis Prevention & Information Centre (ncpic)

Artwork

Slide 20 – Ngurra Tjutaki Palyapayi – by Alison Multa Napurrula

29