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Alcohol and other Drugs Program
Social Health Unit
Department of Health Northern Goldfields Region
The alcohol and other drugs program is coordinated from The Social Health Unit in Ware Street Kalgoorlie /Boulder, it incorporates education and training, clinical consultations, Community development work and research in different programs.
The program also incorporates needles and syringe program within its mandate and delivers health related messages to all of the programs. The areas covered includes Kalgoorlie/Boulder to the Esperance region to the Central Desert area of Warburton including Kiwikurra and far out as Wiluna.
In the area of smoking strategies and initiatives include public education, (Groupwork with the Quit for Life program. Adheres to the Department of Health’s campaign’s such as ‘ Smarter than Smoking’, Quit, Quit Day, Quit Week,) Alcohol program include, (Respect Yourself”, Host Responsibility’), Illicit Drugs, Drug Aware and others that are developed.
Alcohol and other drug use impacts on the health of individuals in many ways. The program seeks to reduce the risks of alcohol and other drugs on the health of the individual and community. Whether this is through the health related programs/messages or Liquor Licensing strategies addressing community concerns. Examples of these include: Alcohol Accord involving Pubs, clubs and liquor outlets. Dry communities within Aboriginal communities, involvement of teaching and education of wardens within these communities concerning alcohol misuse and community development initiatives in coping with Alcohol and drug misuse.
Smoking programs that are targeted are aimed at the high-risk categories of the population for example, - youth, with smoking / illicit drug use / and respect yourself campaigns.
Included in this is the risk involved for men, covering smoking, alcohol use, binge drinking, levels of safe drinking, drink driving, and mixing medications and drinking.
Also with this is the message of standard drinks and what is a standard drink?
Within society the most common drug used is alcohol and men are commonly the highest consumers.
Within the liquor industry alcoholic drinks developed have different alcohol strengths or percentage of alcohol contained within the bottle/can or cask. When partying or indulging it is worth knowing:
- how the alcohol affects you individually,
- what strength alcohol content of the drink,
- how to reduce the risks for you.
The report on “Trends in Apparent Per Capita Alcohol Consumption in Western Australia, 1988/89 to 1998/99”states that:
- A higher proportion of men drink alcohol than women. About 70% of Western Australian men drink alcohol regularly, while about half of Western Australian women are regular drinkers. In addition, a higher proportion of men consume alcohol at harmful levels than women.
- There are also significant differences in drinking patterns between age groups. A higher proportion of people aged 14 to 24 years drink alcohol at hazardous or harmful levels than people aged 25 and above.
- The type of alcohol consumed differs between age groups and between males and females. Three times the proportion of men drink beer compared with women, whereas twice the proportion of women drink wine compared to men. A higher proportion of people aged between 15 and 24 years drink spirits than any other age group.
Therefore in interpreting these results it is important to remember that people have different drinking styles according to their age, sex and other demographic factors.
This report assesses per capita consumption trends over the eleven –year period 1988/89 to 1998/99. By using per capita alcohol consumption estimates, it is possible to identify any changes in the population’s patterns of consumption.” (Pg 2,:November 2001 Department of Health)
With this in mind it is essential that men’s health include looking at the lifestyle and the choices you make for health benefits.
The alcohol and other drugs program can advise, educate, refer the individual on and provide support in helping to maintain the health focus of the individual.
The following contacts are listed for information regarding any of the above programs.
Social Health Unit
Josephine Maxted Alcohol and other Drugs Regional Coordinator
Adrianne Moloney Needle and Syringe Program Regional Coordinator
36-42 Ware Street
Phone 9021 2622
Fax 9021 8188
Useful links:
Alcohol and Drug Information Services (ADIS)
Phone 9442 5000
Toll Free 1800 198 024
Quit Line
Help Line 13 18 48
Parent Drug Information Service (PDIS)
Phone 9442 5050
Free Call 1800 653 203
Occupational Services WA (OSWA)
Phone 9225 4522
Fax 9225 4533
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