NEWS: 23/02/10 'Alcohol abuse is 'biggest problem''

[puckboy]

Alcohol abuse is 'biggest problem'
LINDSAY McPHEE and ADRIAN WATSON, The West Australian
February 23, 2010, 7:03 am

Many West Australians believe alcohol abuse places a greater burden on the community than illicit drugs, gambling and tobacco.

Almost 50 per cent of respondents to the What matters to the West survey said addiction to alcohol cost the community most, while 36 per cent said illicit drug addiction was the biggest problem, 11 per cent said tobacco and just 4 per cent said gambling.

While most thought cannabis should remain illegal, 18 per cent said the drug should be legalised and more than a third said it should be legalised for medicinal purposes.

Curtin University professor of health policy Mike Daube said there was no doubt there was increasing concern about the effect of alcohol on the community.

"We are seeing increasing concerns about the problems alcohol causes: violence, road crashes and domestic violence and there is undoubtedly real concern about drinking patterns among young people," he said.

"However (the results) really show the community still vastly underestimates the impact of tobacco; more than 80 per cent of drug deaths are caused by tobacco and the cost of tobacco to the WA community alone is estimated at $2 billion a year."

People at a Sunday session in Cottesloe were divided on whether alcohol or illicit drugs caused a greater burden.

Marin Sestan, of Spearwood, said he agreed with the survey findings and thought people had become obsessed with drinking alcohol to get drunk.

"I have noticed in the past five to 10 years people do not drink just for the enjoyment - they drink to get drunk," the 30-year-old said.

Mr Sestan said violence stemming from excessive alcohol consumption was a problem but this addiction was also causing people to stagnate in the pursuit of their dreams. "They could find much better ways to use their time other than drinking," he said.

Emma Scott, 23, of Mt Pleasant, said she thought illicit drugs, particularly ice, posed a heavier burden than alcohol.

She said people tended to become more violent when taking drugs and the health effects lasted a lot longer and could be permanent.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/6841000/alcohol-abuse-is-biggest-problem/

 

[Tripman]

I have never understood why alcohol is legal in comparison to marijuana. Never have i been hospitalised due to any illicit substances, well except for when i got roofied haha. But alcohol has got me there twice.

 

[Sameria]

I understand. Understanding still doesn't make it right though.

Time and time again it has been proven that alcohol is, on the whole, more damaging than society thal all illicit drug combined. This has been known for quite sometime by anyone who'd bothered to do even a little research.

The deep social and religious entrenchement of alcohol is the real reason why alcohol is still legal. Alcohol has been the drug of choice for the Catholic's since it's birth. They deemonised the Arab "hasseesh sassins", and their drug of choice ( Marijuana ) was demonised along with them.

As much as some don't like to admit, the Catholic religion still holds quite a lot of sway in Australia (as it does in many other Western countries). The Australian Christian Assosciation (ACA)is one of, if not the biggest Political Lobbiest group in Australia. They still hold an immense amount of Influence in Australian politics - Just look at the proposed internet filter; which the ACA cotributed 80% of lobbying to the project.

 

[thestudent14]

Time and time again it has been proven that alcohol is, on the whole, more damaging than society thal all illicit drug combined. This has been known for quite sometime by anyone who'd bothered to do even a little research.

QUOTE]

Thats not true, Whilst alcohol has done the most damamge, thats based on sheer numbers not on percentages. I have heaps of friends who drink nearly every day and definately have a big session once or twice a week. But if illicit drugs like speed were legal, then the re-percussions would be massive. It would be far more damaging then alcohol. And I think this is true for alot of drugs.

Except with weed, damage is minimal and definately doesn't cause violent behaviour.

 

[MrIbis]

Can someone explain to me the enjoyment of alcohol without the intoxicating effects?

I can't see any, it generally tastes shit, and if it wasn't relaxing -no one would touch the crap. Shit, think about it, soft drinks taste good, and if those got you wasted, we'd drink them without grog... but people still mix their booze with them...

 

[hyroller]

I drink white wine/sauv blanc for the taste. In large part.

Mmmmmmmm.

Still though, never been a big boozer. The pleasant effects of alcohol are best felt in moderation.
Not everyone can lay claim to that preference, however

 

[WitchfinderGeneral]

Can someone explain to me the enjoyment of alcohol without the intoxicating effects?

I can't see any, it generally tastes shit, and if it wasn't relaxing -no one would touch the crap. Shit, think about it, soft drinks taste good, and if those got you wasted, we'd drink them without grog... but people still mix their booze with them...

I enjoy a good beer without aiming to get drunk.

I wouldn't say alcohol is more dangerous, it's just that it's used far more widely, usually irresponsibly. I'd say gambling is far more dangerous and wide spread than drugs are. I've met quite a few addicted gamblers, and many are not in good shape mentally or physically.

 

[MrIbis]

Heh, i guess i just don't have the aquired taste to wines or spirits... i drink beer and scotch, whilst i don't drink to excess i drink with the aim of achieving some kind of intoxication.

 

[Pie]

I spent 4 years doing pills, speed, mephedrone and 3 months ago i stopped and havent thought about them since. I felt so much better afterwards both mind and body and figured it was the best decision I'd ever made.

Lately I've been drinking a lot more, probably to compensate, and you know what, I've been having these shitful hangovers, waking up with no memory of the previous night, doing stupid shit that has almost lost me a few great friends and to be honest, that clean headed feeling I had after cutting out stims has disappeared.

Alcohol is taken for granted far too much by people in society, I think. Myself included.

The age old moral is of course to exercise some moderation, but I think everybody knows this and just disregards it anyway. The real problems are peoples' attitudes

 

[Jordan`]

But if illicit drugs like speed were legal, then the re-percussions would be massive. It would be far more damaging then alcohol. And I think this is true for alot of drugs.

I agree, any day I would prefer a club to serve MDMA instead of alcohol but do we really know the dangers of these illegal substances? I just can't see drugs being legalised at all within the near future, maybe cannabis of course and decriminalisation of other illicits but I definitely wouldn't support selling packs of speed like tobacco. The health problems could be so severe in a couple of decades...

 

[Akhenaten]

My 2 Cents.

I think that its important to recognise that most substances when abused will cause harm. The differing factor is availability.

One has to ask the question why am I taking this substance, because all to often people fall into a huge trap that society has set for them. It's only too easy to come home from work annoyed at a hard day and reach for a beer, it's all too easy to reach for the MDMA (Assuming you have some) to let of steam at the club.

But what is more important to remember is that while taking any substance may help you cope with the status quo, they will not address it, tomorrow will bring another day with the same you and the same circumstances. A pill or a beer for all your ail's is too simple a solution for society's complex problems. And we all suffer those, every single one of us. And thats not even getting into the terrible pitfalls of addiction which is one of the worst places you can be. I have seen that with one of my firends, and tried to get him out.

I am an irregular user of a few substances, but when I use something I find myself asking two questions, am I using this because I want to escape? Am I using this because I need it? If the answer becomes yes to either one of those-for me personally-it's the wrong reason.

By all means blow of steam at the club after a hard week, enjoy that beer, but remember that with a multiplicity of available legal substances will come the health and psychological repercussions to follow suit. One only needs to look at what tobacco has done over the past 100 years.

 

[hyroller]

Venues serving MDMA is a bit far-fetched.... next thing you know they'll have rooms set aside so people can puff on their crackpipes 8)

In truth, alcohol has far more social currency than any drug does (with the possible exception of choof). I think people should be given a booze licence at 18, and that stupid behaviour ought to lead to it being revoked... even though responsible drinking should be rightful for all adults, some folks simply can't be trusted

 

[baysieguy1]

Heh, i guess i just don't have the aquired taste to wines or spirits... i drink beer and scotch, whilst i don't drink to excess i drink with the aim of achieving some kind of intoxication.

That's where you going wrong Mr Ibis, if you got your taste buds enjoying good red wine, then you could enjoy a quiet glass in the sun, over dinner or with good company, no need for excess. That said I could quite easily drink it to excess too.

 

[hyroller]

^^^^ don't listen to baysie, real connossieurs drink white, and not red....

 

[Tripman]

real connossieurs drink both actually...

 

[Crankinit]

All depends on what you're eating with it

 

[hyroller]

lol, true, but you can't go past the ol' white wine & seafood winning combination.... synergies the equivalent of a culinary orgasm... the best drugs may taste like shit but the best eats, on the other hand....

 

[MilliVanilli]

but when I use something I find myself asking two questions, am I using this because I want to escape?

As much as I can see what you are saying, and I agree with most of what you said, I don't see why taking drugs for escapism is such a bad thing (obviously in the context).

Escapism from your problems and troubles in life, sure I can see why drugs wouldn't be the best answer. But for recreational users, what is the harm in a little escapism? And to some extent, we are all in a way escaping from the regular boundaries that are our everyday life.
And when you are on LSD, and you are in the midst of listening to a heavy psychedelic guitar solo, one can't help but to escape for a little while.

Well that is how I see it anyway. My 2c.

 

[thestudent14]

I enjoy a good beer without aiming to get drunk.

I wouldn't say alcohol is more dangerous, it's just that it's used far more widely, usually irresponsibly. I'd say gambling is far more dangerous and wide spread than drugs are. I've met quite a few addicted gamblers, and many are not in good shape mentally or physically.

I know more about gambling then the average bear, having a mother who was addicted to gambling losing us, our home, our cars and now 10 yr's since her addiction my dad still pays off $400 a week to debts and will for the rest of his life =(

BUT I don't think gambling is as dangerous or wide spread then drugs. Whilst the few people who do get addicted it's terrible, they steal from the people they love and it all goes to waste. However I see people abuse drugs more often and are more easily addicted. Whilst both can be very damaging if abused a drug addiction can easily become both physically and mentally addictive whilst gambling it's much much harder.

Also did you know that 90% of the turnover that are made from gambling is done by 3% of "problem" gamblers. Nearly everyone gambles here and their but of the regulars it's only 3% that get to the situation of my where my mum was at. But I would still heavily disagree that it's more dangerous to society then allicit drugs.

I think the one defining factor though is the people that become addicted to gambling it's alot harder to pick up on then what it is with smoking, drinking or doing drugs. You can normally tell when a friend is starting to do something too often, my best smoking, me drinking, one of my best mates into drugs. But with gambling my whole family was oblivious to it until it was way too out of control. My dad knew it was a bit of an issue but didn't realise how bad it was until she said she needed $50,000 that week that it became a reality of how bad it was. And it's not the people you would expect, my mum is one of the nicest people you ever meet, extremely intelligent (Certified genius ) and used to run a nursing home and has never touched a drug in her life (not even marijuana even though she grew up in the 70's).

Sorry bout the rant, It's just something I've done alot of thinking about but rarely speak about. Good to vent

woo drugs, lol party safe

 

[thestudent14]

@Akhenaten
oh yeah, and I think it's okay to use drugs for escapism aslong as people arn't relying on it for escapism.

and one of my mates saying "he needed this" last time we had a good md rush was very unsettling.

@Mr. Ibis
Yeah I agree with ya, drink for some kind of intoxicating affect. And although I too enjoy a good red wine with a nice meal, I don't really think that counts in the context of the argument, a fine wine with a meal is a norm. I think he means people having "just a few drinks" with no intention of getting a reaction. So why bother? and not just drink something that tastes better and is cheaper?