Alcoholic Consumption among Youth: Preventing Addictions in Homes

This article discusses the problem of alcoholic consumption among youth in Australia and the need for prevention strategies. It highlights the high proportion of young Australians consuming alcohol at extreme levels and the negative consequences it has on their health and well-being. The article emphasizes the role of parents in preventing addictions in homes and suggests policy strategies to address the issue. Find study material on Desklib to learn more about this topic.

Apply problem solving approach

Alcoholic Consumptions among Youth: Preventing youngsters from
addictions in homes
1. Naming the issue and justify the priority issue/problem/goals to be addressed
Consumption of alcohol among youth is considered as one of the biggest problem in front
of Australia, where one-third of Australians age between 12 to 17 years are reporting to
consuming drink. Regularly in-take of alcohol leads to cause risky drinking behaviour among
youngsters especially after adult age (Cibich, Hines and Carey, 2020). It has been analysed that
as per survey through NDSHS (National Drug Strategy Household Survey) 2019 that among
three-quarters of population aged 14 and above, consumes alcohol at extreme level in the last 12
months. However, on an average this proportion significantly declined from 2016 (with 6.0%) to
2019 (by 5.4%) (Alcohol and young people, 2019). As per this figure mentioned below, it has
been found that near about 79% of Australians aged over 18, consumed alcohol in past year
2018, where average consumption is being considerably much higher in regional areas as
compared to capital cities. So, this would increase the risk related to alcohol related harm issues,
with decreasing their life quality as well. Similarly, as per single occasion risk guidelines of
NHMRC, it has been identified that considerable that -
 One in every 4 Australian, consumes standard drinks on any one occasion.
 Specifically, 1 in 4 (25%) of them are aged over 14 drink alcohol at a risky level at least
monthly on a single occasion.
 A similar proportion about 26% to 2016 considering with lifetime risk, proportion of
males (with 33%) is higher than females (with 16.6%), that generally exceeded the single
occasion risk guideline (Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia, 2020).
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 Conversely, a significant decrease has been seen in the proportion of Australians in 2019
who are aged between 30 to 39 that exceeded the single occasion risk guideline in terms
of 28%, which was 31% in 2016.
2. Statement of the issue or goal to be addressed
To justify the statement of given issue related to alcoholic consumption, problem can be
framed as -“The problem is that Majority of Youth Australians aged over 14 are consuming
alcohol at extreme level”. The label of this issue describe the root condition or concerning of the
causes that leads to create addiction on people at adolescent age. This is due to lack of parent’s
attention towards their children (Porthé and et. al., 2020). Parents are considered as main supplier
of alcohol for their children who are below 18, because purchasing and consuming alcohol at
licensed premises are illegal. But if peer ones allow children on them to drink or do not concern
about whether they consume, then it leads to increase addiction of them. Along with this,
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extreme level of consuming over a short period or at young age also known as ‘binge drinking’
increase proportional of drinkers.
3. Review on problem by framing it
To identify the root cause, personal and environmental factors, the given problem is
framed as -“The extreme consumption of alcohol among youth is a major cause of preventable
disease and illness in Australia”. This framing statement help in identifying severity of such
problem with level of its extremeness that government needs to be aware of the same (Noel,
Sammartino and Rosenthal, 2020). Through reviewing such an issue, strict actions and policies
need to be made, for bringing awareness among people especially for parents about
consequences of early drinking for their children.
4. Questionnaire to identify level of severity of describe problem
Behaviour which contributes to problem of early alcohol consumptions among youth include –
 Parents’ allowance or not considering about addiction/consumption of alcohol children
for alcohol
 Young people and binge drinking i.e. consumption of alcohol at extreme level over a
short period of time
 Nearly one in 4 (25%) has more than 4 standard drinks
 Living in poverty or aboriginal societies where people having less awareness about
consequences of allowance of their young ones to drink alcohol
 Easy accessibility of drinks at homes for younger children
 Digital or social media where young ones get acknowledge about alcohol and attracts
them to consume
5. Analysis on underlying root causes of the problem
As a consequences of early alcohol consumption among youth, the major proportion of
population affected by the same. Consuming drinks make young ones more addict in their adult
where it becomes almost impossible for them to drink less or stop the same. Over one (13%) of
every death in Australia who aged between 14 to 17 is a consequence of alcoholic related issue.
Due to extreme level of drinking or consuming over longer period at regular manner, reduces
probability of long-time life of people (Ewin, Reed and Powell, 2020). Along with this, it has
been found that alcohol consumption leads to increase risks of major accidents, injuries, unsafe
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sex within teenage period that also increase risk of teenage pregnancy, violence and criminal
behaviour among youth and adults etc. Since parents are being more contributing factors in
making their child as alcoholic, so, this leads to also raise health disparities among youngsters
who drink and who don’t.
As youths are considered as the backbone of every country or society who contributes
their efforts in developing economy and making a good society. But indulging in drinking
alcohol by youths create a great impact on development of nation, as it reduces quality of life of
people, put negative impact on their health, increase risk of damaging to the developing brain,
with a numerous alcoholic related diseases later in life (Cibich, Hines and Carey, 2020). It also
develops aggressive or offensive behaviour among youth, that further results in increasing case
of violence, accidents or injuries to others and themselves due to damage of brain sensory
organs.
6. Force that may be restrained, changed or drive the problem
The problem is that “Indulging in alcoholic drinks reducing both physical and mental
well-being state of youths”. “But, why?” because early drinks result in causing death of younger ones.
 “But, why?” because it leads to develop offensive and aggressive behaviour among
young generation that severely impact on growth of society or nation adversely.
 “But, why?” because it increases cases of major accidents or serious injuries due to
drinkers who either do or met by traffic accidents.
7. Other related issues
Neglecting to take effective actions on ‘youth alcohol addiction’ is one of the major
issues that increases the proportion of the same in Australian (Ewin, Reed and Powell, 2020).
However, this ratio as compared with past statistical data of 2018, has been decreased in 2019
but still it major proportion of the young generations are at higher risks to being indulge in
drinking or binge drinking.
8. Personal factors that contribute to this problem
Decision of young ones to consume alcohol is highly influenced by early introduction to
such substances at homes; exposure to binge drinking of their parents; easily accessibility,
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parental relationship, society and lifestyle, etc. are some personal factors which contributes to
indulge children in alcoholic consumption.
9. Environmental factors contribute to raise described problems
Major population of Australia belong to aboriginal communities face discrimination on
each and every phase of life, in terms of less opportunity for being participated in society
development policies, getting equal employment, lack of awareness about consequences of their
drinking or family related trauma on their younger ones, etc. This lead to increase consumption
of alcohol among children in homes either by allowance or not getting supervision of their
parents (Noel, Sammartino and Rosenthal, 2020). Along with this, addiction or drinking of
alcohols by family members or surrounding ones, imitation of peers on
traditional festivals and ceremonies, as well as tribal culture itself are also
influences drinking behaviours of adolescents in Australia, especially among
aboriginal (or indigenous) societies.
10. Problem solving approach
As the priority issue is early consumption of alcohol among children which is increasing
day-by-day, so Australian Government needs to concern on severity of the same, for prevention
of young generation from its serious consequences (Porthé and et. al., 2020). Healthcare
Department of this nation needs to run effective campaigns to develop awareness among people
about serious consequences of consuming alcohol by them, that highly influences their younger
ones also. Adolescents’ families regardless of their demographics or community difference, must
be involved in prevention programmes. Along with this, policy strategies which increase
minimum age of legal drinking, reduction of social and commercial access of young generation
from alcohol etc. needs to be implemented as much as possible.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cibich, M., Hines, S., & Carey, T. A. (2020). Effectiveness of strategies for reducing risky
alcohol consumption among youth living in rural or remote areas: a systematic review
protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 18(3), 523-533.
Ewin, R., Reed, A., & Powell, L. (2020). Middle childhood vulnerability to drugs and
alcohol. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice.
Noel, J. K., Sammartino, C. J., & Rosenthal, S. R. (2020). Exposure to digital alcohol marketing
and alcohol use: A systematic review. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs,
Supplement, (s19), 57-67.
Porthé, V., García-Subirats, I., Ariza, C., Villalbí, J. R., Bartroli, M., Júarez, O., & Díez, E.
(2020). Community-Based Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-
Related Harm in Adults. Journal of Community Health, 1-12.
Online
Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia. (2020). [Online] Available Through:
<https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/
contents/drug-types/alcohol#Lifetime%20risk>.
Alcohol and young people. (2019). [Online] Available Through:
<https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/NDA073%20Fact
%20Sheet%20Alcohol%20and%20Young%20People_0.pdf
>.
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