Alcohol Consumption among Aboriginals in Australia

Part B (Poster)
Background
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2012-13 reported that the
Indigenous Australians drank more than the NHMRC risk guideline. Increased alcohol
consumption has significant impacts on the community and has come up as a family stressor.
Moreover, it is associated with a bunch of health and social problems. In 2003, Burden of
Disease study, it was estimated that the alcohol accounts for 5.4% of the diseases and injuries
caused to the Aboriginals (Health, 2013).
The alcohol problem began with the invasion of Australia. Within weeks of the invasion, many
pubs and bars sprawled up for providing the European men with a place for merrymaking. Also,
what greatly impacted the Aboriginals was that they were often paid their wages for their
services in alcohol or tobacco, which was meant to be sold further or exchanged for a
necessary item (Aihw, 2011). It soon began the medium of payment for all sorts of illegal and
questionable activities like prostitution. Alcohol-induced prostitution on the other hand also
spoiled the rearing of children and as a result, many unwanted and unplanned infants roamed
the streets. These children often belonged to the mixed-race and were usually seen as an
abomination and rejected. The white settlers gave alcohol to the Aboriginals to watch and
encourage fights among them as a means of entertainment.
In 1964, the Legislative Council Committee members agreed to make alcohol available to the
Aboriginals. It clear from this fact that it was the Europeans who introduced alcohol to the
Aboriginals. However, they never intimated them about the ill effects of alcohol consumption
and the need to manage their consumption levels (Pmc, 2014).
After the advent of the modern era and advertising, alcohol was everywhere and often
considered as the glue that held the white community together. The omnipresence of alcohol
made it difficult for the Aboriginals to curb their addiction or know about its associated health
hazards. However, a non-indigenous Australian is also as likely to drink as an Indigenous. But
the Aboriginals are more prone to the health hazards as they are unable to access care and
health supplements that would have saved a non-indigenous Australian (Doty-Sweetnam and
Morrissette, 2018).
It soon turned out to be a common stereotype that Indigenous people were all alcohol addicted
and could not be trusted because of their addiction. As a result, it became even difficult for them
to find work and education that could improve their quality of life. Their dependence on alcohol
can also be because of their bleak lifestyle which causes them to soon fall prey to depression
and other drugs (Shakeshaft et al. 2018). Even if there are less number of indigenous people
who are dependent on alcohol than the Australian. They are likely to drink at harmful levels.
Contextual information about the risk factor
The issue of alcohol addiction needs to be viewed in the Australian context. Australians are
known to be heavy drinkers and alcohol is an integral part of their lifestyle and culture. As a
result, it is everywhere and a person trying to limit their consumption might have difficult to keep
themselves in control. In Australia, alcohol is the cause behind 44% of fire injuries,
40%domestic violence, 34% drawings, 30% road accidents and 70% of police time spent in
handling alcohol-related cases. In the year 2004-5, it was estimated that $55.2 billion was spent
on alcohol alone (Popova et al. 2017).
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The broader Australian context is strengthened by the historical context that had been briefly
hinted upon before. Alcohol began the cornerstone of colonial life for the Aboriginals as they
turned to it during the failing times. They lost their lands which were also their only sources of
earning and it turn had to turn towards menial jobs which also took away their freedom and
autonomy. Due to the forced removal of indigenous children from their homes to that of non-
indigenous Australians was a failing move of the colonialist to prevent the aboriginal population
from dying out. During 1838 to 1929, stringent laws were laid on the sale of alcohol to the
indigenous people (Martin, 2018). The laws were lifted when the Aboriginals were able to
demonstrate they were able to control themselves and mix with the wides and acceptable form
of society. However, the draconian laws caused the riskier Alcohol consumption patterns which
often included high levels of consumption at once. Also, alcohol became a prized possession
and they would rather drink to unhealthy levels than have it confiscated. This also promoted the
illegal sale and brewing of alcohol which increased the desire of the people towards it.
The above statistics paint the picture of a country rather than a community that is dependent on
alcohol. It is essential to understand that the alcohol consumption problem is social as well as
historical. The Aboriginals fell back and became dependent on alcohol as they lost their land,
their heritage, culture and head towards economic ruin.
Even though an Aboriginal is 1,3 times more likely to abstain from drinking than an Australian.
However, the ones that do drink, drink in harmful quantities, at 1.2-1.3 times more than what
Australian drinks (Harrison et al. 2016).
The health risks perpetuated among the Aboriginals include alcoholic liver disease, behavioural
disorders, assault, suicide and transport-related accidents. In states like NSW, WA and BT
during 2010-2914, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders died 4.7 and 6.1 times more than a
non-indigenous Australian from Alcohol consumption and associated problems. The overall
suicide rate among the Aboriginals during 2015 was 2.1 times than a non-indigenous person.
40% of the male suicides and 30% of females suicides were accounted by alcohol consumption
and the accompanying behavioural changes (Munns et al. 2016). Also, the use of alcohol is
directly related to the use of other drugs and the prevalence of poor mental health among the
Aboriginals. Smoking is also commonly accompanied by alcohol consumption. However, the
prevalence of smoking has declined from 55% to 45% in 2014-15.
Epidemiology
In order to understand the epidemiology of alcohol, it is necessary to first standardise the limit or
context of alcohol that is likely to cause minimal or no effect in an average person. In Australia,
the standard limit of alcohol if 10 grams, irrespective of the type of alcohol or the contents of the
drink. In the United States, the accepted level is 14 grams. When discussing the effects and
consequences of alcohol in the body, it is necessary to first ensure the level of consumption.
The tradition means of diagnosing alcohol abuse or related complication mostly rely on
symptoms and consequences of drinking alcohol. However, the quantity and frequency of
alcohol consumption are also being considered as a key factor to assert a dependence on
alcohol (Fiel, 2018). In order to be diagnosed with an alcohol disorder, a person would need to
have a maladaptive pattern use and signs of impairment after alcohol use. These were set as
the minimum criteria to diagnose alcohol dependence. Is it essential to delineate the differences
between the abuse of alcohol and dependence on alcohol. Abuse of alcohol is associated with
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