The Little Blue Book

BINGE DRINKING Getting ‘smashed’, drinking heavily over a short period of time with the intention of becoming intoxicated – or binge drinking – crosses all age groups. But binge drinking is of particular risk to the health and well-being of younger drinkers. It may surprise you, but alcohol is the cause of more Australian teenage deaths than any other drug. 2 It is also the most widely used of recreational drugs – and the most widely misused. According to ABS data, one-in-five young men (19%) aged 18-24 reported that they “had engaged in risky or high-risk drinking at least once a week during the past 12 months”. Of young women, 16% reported “regular high-risk drinking” . 5 Today in Australia, one-in-five hospitalisations of people under 25 is due to alcohol. 6 Binge drinking, carrying with it the risk of acute alcoholic poisoning, is very dangerous. Alcohol in large doses is toxic and can, and does, kill. Besides the damage to internal organs like the liver, pancreas, brain and kidneys that can result from severe intoxication, the loss of physical coordination, clarity of thinking and the loss of control and judgment of a heavily affected drinker can put them at serious risk of injury and harm. (1) Australian National Council On Drugs Report (ANCD) 2013; (2) Trends in Drug Use and Related Harms in Australia; Roxburgh A., et al (3) National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016 (updated 2018); www.aihw.gov.au (4) National Guidelines for Alcohol Consumption; Australian Government Department of Health; www.alcohol.gov.au (5) AIHW; National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2014-15 (6) Australian National Council on Drugs Report, 2013 Alcohol is the cause of more teenage deaths in Australia than any other drug. It is also the most widely used of recreational drugs. 89 ADA Australia PostScript Section 2 Section 1 Section 3