TEENS are turning their backs on the booze, but are they turning their attention to other illegal substances?
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Official government data shows underage drinking and alcohol “misuse” is continuing to have a dramatic decline.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District drug and alcohol clinical leader at Griffith, Treesa Sebastine, felt any drop in underage drinking was pleasing.
“It is a very good news for the community and families in the area,” she said.
“Young people and their families should be very proud of themselves and congratulated for their efforts.
“We hope that this trend continues and other age groups also reduce their consumption of alcohol.
“It also suggests that the national strategy aims and objectives are achieving good outcomes.”
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 82 per cent of 12 to 17 year-olds in Australia do not drink any alcohol at all. This confirms a long-term trend of continuous improvement, up from 56.5 per cent in 2007.
The numbers point out underage drinking is in consistent long-term decline in Australia and the age of initiation (having a first drink) continues to rise. Of the 18 per cent of teens who tried alcohol, the age of first drink has moved up from 14 years and seven months in 2004 to 16 years and one month in 2016.
In more good news, declines were seen in recent use of some illegal drugs in 2016 including meth/amphetamines (from 2.1 per cent to 1.4 per cent), hallucinogens (1.3 per cent to 1.0%), and synthetic cannabis (1.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent).
Underage drinking has always been an issue publicans in the MIA have also had to deal with. Wade Hotel publican Rod McDonald said together with police, he had noticed a decrease in the amount of young people trying to gain entry to licensed premises.
“Thanks to law changes, the police can now fine these young people if they ‘fail to quit’ (leave the premises once being told to do so),” he said. “It’s always been tough for (licensed premises) to police with young people, but something we are definitely very serious about.”
Ms Sebastine admitted it was sometimes still hard getting the message across to young people. “(There is) the influence of peer pressure, underlying mental health issues, parental drug and alcohol problems, limited insight among teenagers and stigma attached to it,” she said.
(What we need is) easy access to treatment, increasing collaborative approach and care and restricted access to alcohol.
“(We should) encourage young people to consider reducing their alcohol use and seek help if they need it.”