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From a woman who became a "full alcoholic" at age 18, to people who sleep on the streets and who drink hand sanitizer and mouthwashes, thousands of Australian lives are ruined by addiction to alcohol. And that does not distinguish.
Samantha Hoult was a "full alcoholic" when she was 18 years old. At 27, she was rushed to emergency with liver failure.
"The fact that the doctor said," If you drink one more drink, you will die, "it hit me like a ton of bricks," she said.
"And I knew something had to change."
Ms. Hoult, now 32, has been sober since.
This is not an ordinary feat for a person who started drinking at the age of 14 to "take care of problems" in his life at the time and who has spent his entire life in a state of mind. ; intoxicated.
"Because I started so young, I did not really learn how to deal with alcohol-free problems," she said.
"I got to the point where I was drinking the minute I woke up, otherwise I would have had delirium tremens [severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms].
"It touched every aspect of my life."
"I've lost almost everything"
Ms. Hoult left the university, went bankrupt and lost several jobs, her driver's license, her relationships with partners, friends and family members.
At 27, the Cairns woman felt sick several days after a "particularly wet weekend" and visited a doctor.
"He called me the next morning and told me that I had to go to the hospital in the next 30 minutes, that my liver was closing," he said. she said.
"Your liver enzyme level is supposed to be between zero and 45 and mine was 14,380".
Mrs. Hoult described this moment as her "love at first sight".
But it was a turning point, and it's been four years and two months since she touched a drop of alcohol.
"It was incredibly difficult," she said. "I had to learn to do everything sober again – even sleeping, eating, socializing, going out together – I had never done anything sober."
Ms. Hoult began to consult a psychologist, to exercise, to join the state emergency department and to return to the university to complete her diploma. nurse and become a high-level student.
She is no longer tempted to drink, even playing billiards in pubs and socializing without alcohol.
But she said that she was often seen as a sober person in a society that encourages the consumption of alcohol.
"I think there is a huge culture in Australia to drink and I think that alcohol is one of the worst drugs," she said.
"A new approach": giving alcohol to alcoholics
Although Mrs. Hoult has managed to overcome her addiction, it is unrealistic to see a minority of alcoholics become sober, according to some experts, who should instead take small regular doses of alcohol.
This minority is mainly made up of homeless people with severe alcohol dependence, some consuming a hand sanitizer, a mouthwash and a shaving cream because they can not afford alcoholic beverages.
Professor Kate Dolan, from the National Research Center for Drugs and Alcohol at the University of New South Wales, recently visited the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. study programs for managing alcohol.
The programs administer to clients hourly and regulated doses of alcohol, as well as support and accommodation services.
The Northern Territory government has commissioned a feasibility study on the implementation of alcohol management programs in the most disadvantaged areas of the NWT as part of a new harm minimization plan.
Professor Dolan said this innovative approach could help vulnerable chronic drinkers in critical situations and that it should be tested in Australia.
"That's about everyone typical of the skid-row: a man, 50 to 60 years old, very long history of very high alcohol consumption, many attempts at treatment, has almost abandoned, the company has abandoned, and they are about to give up, "she says.
"I am aware that it is controversial, and it will not be easy for many people.
"I think it's pragmatic … These people are pretty desperate … To drink alcohol without a drink, they'll drink anyway."
"The people who were in the programs and who spoke to me said it would change their lives," she said.
"They have been able to reduce their alcohol consumption so they can actually work … organize their lives, recover their health, reconnect with their families."
The alcohol industry needs heavy drinkers to stay profitable ".
Per capita consumption of alcohol in Australia has fallen to its lowest level in more than 50 years.
The proportion of people who drink excessively (more than two usual drinks a day) has also decreased since 2010, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Wellness.
But Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation president Alex Wodak said the biggest consumers of alcohol (10%) consumed about 50% of the alcohol consumed, while the strongest (20%) ) consumed about 70% of consumption.
"So, unless there are a lot of great drinkers, the beverage industry is in trouble. Despite what they say, it's the truth," he said. he declares.
Dr. Wodak said that alcohol abuse cost Australia more than $ 36 billion a year and was associated with 5,000 deaths a year, but that it was treated " very bad".
He said that the taxation of alcoholic beverages in Australia was a "dog's breakfast" and that the reforms were long overdue.
"It does not make sense in terms of economic health or public health, but we can not change that," he said.
Mr. Wodak asked that beverages be taxed according to their alcohol content and not their class, and that alcohol be more expensive, some drinks being "ridiculously cheap" and abused by the most disadvantaged, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
"It is infuriating that the alcoholic beverage sector is so powerful that it can block almost all attempts to introduce effective policy change," he said.
Alcohol Beverages Australia, an industry organization, said its members "play a leading role in the fight against harmful consumption in Australia".
Executive Director Fergus Taylor cited a report released this month by the International Alliance for Responsible Consumption (IARD), a non-profit organization funded by the alcoholic beverage industry, which describes in detail a five-year campaign led by beverage producers to combat the excessive consumption of alcohol. awareness campaigns, strengthening marketing codes of practice and providing consumer warnings.
"The downward trends we are seeing locally in key areas such as underage drinking and excessive occasional alcohol consumption reflect and encourage this important industry participation," said Mr. Taylor.
Determine the best way to live, with or without alcohol
Chris Raine is the founder of the Hello Sunday Morning online portal, dedicated to supporting people who cut or cut their alcohol consumption.
Hello Sunday Morning was created nine years ago when Mr. Raine, then 22 years old, decided to stop drinking for a year and publish a blog about this experience.
Since then, more than 125,000 members have encouraged themselves to rethink their relationship with alcohol.
Mr. Raine said that people who are wondering how much they drink should try to be kind to the best way to live their lives, with or without alcohol.
"We will inevitably be challenged, stumble and have difficulties, and it does not matter, it's part of modern life," he said.
"I'm just human too – it's a trip of a lifetime.
"The only thing we can focus on as a drug and alcohol sector and as a community is to make sure that if someone wants to change, he should have all the money. possible help in the world to make this change. "
Topics:
alcohol,
health policy,
health,
community and society,
Cairns-4870
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