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Volume 5, Wednesday October 7th, 2009
Under 18 and binge drinking are IN THIS edition problems N No safe amount for young
There is a concerning growth in the number of drink related incidents in Roxby Downs and the local Drug and Alcohol Forum said there is a need for education. Some people think the supervised introduction of alcohol to young people in the home reduces the chance of them developing a drinking problem later in life. Think again! This is the message from the Roxby Downs Drug and Alcohol
Forum and supported by National Health and Medical Research Council reserach. Chairman of the Drug and Alcohol Forum, Mr Ray Goldie wants all parents to heed the warning. The research shows 2.3 million Australians had their first taste of alcohol or drink when they were just 10 years old or younger. The Roy Morgan Research shows nearly six million Australians had their first alcoholic sip or drink
aged 14 years and younger and almost seven out of 10 people are not aware of the National Health and Medical Research Councils new national guidelines on alcohol which recommend the safest option is to delay young people’s initiation to drinking for as long as possible. Deakin University professor John Toumbourou said early drinking, even in small quantities can be problematic.
“Early exposure to alcohol can switch off the sedative effect in a teenager’s brain and this can allow them to drink more,” he warned. “Teenagers who are exposed to even small amounts of alcohol can develop a tolerance to its effects.” This is fast becoming a local issue that needs attention according Mr Goldie who said there is an underage drinking problem in Roxby Downs like so many other towns around Australia. “I’m not shocked that kids have their first sip at 10, it’s pretty common, he said. “There are a lot of people out there that actually think they are doing their kids a favour by letting them have a drink with the family, a sip of wine or a sip of beer or something.” He said because this doesn’t appear to hurt at the time they think it dispels all the myths that come with alcohol and their kids won’t get into it later in life. “They do get into it,” said the Forum Chairman. We all know of young people who have participated in underage drinking around Roxby. They see the antics of the so called celebrities like football players on drunken sprees and think it’s funny and what adults do. They are getting the wrong message.
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ew indigenous art display
Page 3
Graham
“Monitored” around the world Page 4
Bob
takes-up his role at Andamooka Page 6