Community Health Nursing Report: Alcoholism in Parramatta, Australia

This report analyzes the public health issue of alcoholism in the Local Government Area (LGA) of Parramatta, Australia. It begins by discussing the aetiology and epidemiology of alcoholism, highlighting genetic, biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to its development. The report provides a brief description of the LGA, followed by an examination of the impact of alcoholism on the Parramatta population, including prevalence rates and related demographic data. The study explores the relationship between the public health issue and its prevalence, drawing on data from community profiles. The role of community health nurses in managing alcoholism through primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions is also discussed, emphasizing their responsibilities in detection, management, and patient recovery. The report highlights the symptoms of alcoholism, its associated risks, and the statistical data collected by the LGAs and Local Health Districts (LHDs) in Parramatta, including the impact of alcohol on physical, emotional, and psychological health, and the role of nurses in community health settings.

Running head: COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING: ALCOHOLISM IN PARRAMATTA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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A person’s health is largely influenced by the health behaviors that he or she choose to
develop as part of the day to day individual lifestyles. Some of the bad behaviors that one can
take up is poor eating behaviors, overdrinking, and drug abuse among others (Gleeson & Friel,
2013). Such behaviors tend to develop health risks that affects the quality of the affected
individual’s life. Most of these problems are avoidable through reduction or modification of risk
factors (Sørensen et al., 2012). There are several public health related issues that are affecting the
Australian society nowadays. These health issues are observed due to the emergence of several
disease or disorders or due to the social issues such as domestic violence, obesity, and drug and
alcohol abuse (Morgan et al., 2012). This assignment will be discussing such public health issue
of the Local Government Area (LGA) Parramatta, Australia and will provide an aetiology and
epidemiology of it. Further with a brief description of the LGA the impact (eg. prevalence) of
the public health problem on the population of the LGA will be discussed. Furthermore,
depending on the data collected from the community profile, the relation between the public
health issue and its prevalence will be discussed. Finally the role of community health nurses in
managing these issues in relation to primary, secondary or tertiary interventions will be
discussed.
While discussing the aetiology, Alcoholism is a disorder that has a lot of factors
contributing to its development. They can either be genetics, biological factors, cognitive
behavioral, temperament, psychological and even social factors. They contribute to a large extent
towards alcohol dependence (Laslett et al., 2012). The dependence can be quite common in a
family or community in terms of use and the alcoholism itself. The condition can be passed
down from parent to child in one generation to another. More to that religious or political

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affiliation can also contribute to the condition although they are quite far off biological reasons
(Livingston, 2014).
Alcoholism is a psychiatric disorder that is common to 7-12.5% of western counties and
Australia. The disorder is uncommon in countries with high Muslim populations. The ratio of
men to women suffering from alcoholism rates at 2 to 1 although female alcoholism is harder to
overcome than that of men. It accounts for 3.2 % of global deaths and is more common among
resource poor countries (Ramamoorthi, 2015). Since early 19th century, spirits were the most
consumed alcoholic beverage in the country with a consumption rate of 13.6 liters of pure
alcohol. There were fluctuating rates in the decades that followed. Alcohol consumption per
capita in Northern Australian territory has been rated as the second highest globally where there
is an estimated 15.1 liters consumption of pure alcohol per year. The aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders in Northern Australia is 16.9 liters of pure alcohol per year (Ramamoorthi, 2015). In
the past women were not allowed to drink but later on in the late 9th century, there were allowed
to drink just as same as the men. The local government area states that women drink more than
men in the capital cities. There is a direct genetic hypothesis linking the genetic influence of
alcoholism form parent to child, psychological factors tend to play the bigger role. That is,
extended pedigree studies, twin studies involving both identical and fraternal pairs, individuals
raised away from alcoholic members all point out to the similarities and difference on occurrence
of alcoholism. Studies that have related the three condition show that the alcohol dependency is
more prevalent in makes as compared to females (Livingston, 2014).
There is a direct genetic hypothesis linking the genetic influence of alcoholism form
parent to child, psychological factors tend to play the bigger role. That is, extended pedigree

3COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING: ALCOHOLISM IN PARRAMATTA
studies, twin studies involving both identical and fraternal pairs, individuals raised away from
alcoholic members all point out to the similarities and difference on occurrence of alcoholism.
Studies that have related the three condition show that the alcohol dependency is more prevalent
in makes as compared to females (Bennte, 1990).
Alcoholism is a progressive disease and thus without control, it gets worse over time.
This makes the human body unable to cope and therefore alcohol dependency is created.
Overdrinking leads to liver damage amongst other serious impacts. It may also lead to dangerous
behavior. People unable to control their urge to take in alcohol are referred to as functional
alcoholics and they either start drinking while in their teens or during young age (Morgan et al.,
2012).
Most of the young adults who are functional alcoholics started taking alcohol due to peer
pressure as a form of trying to fit in a society. They build up on their alcohol intake to
adulthood. Alcohol tends to affect the women more aggressively than the man due to their high
body fat content, low body mass and hormones. A woman’s body adjusts to the alcohol chemical
compositions and it’s easily ingested causing fast drunkenness states (Edenberg & Foroud,
2013).
If abused too much, a woman can suffer alcohol poisoning at a faster rate than a man.
Alcohol also deters with the cognitive functions and performance of the brain. Many People
depend on alcohol for the sake of socialization, relaxation, healing, spirituality, commiseration or
celebrations. The users tend to believe that alcohol makes them feel some type of way that helps
and it increases pleasure and decreases emotional pain and trauma as well as physical stress. This
leads to low anxiety and stress levels (Ramamoorthi, 2015).

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The symptoms of Alcoholism are for one to be labeled an alcoholic, one must display the
following symptoms such as the inability to quit drinking, binge drinking, seclusion,
experiencing withdrawal symptoms in the absence of alcohol, avoiding social activities like
birthday parties where people are gathered. Further, failing to meet obligations, dismissing
emotional connections to family and friends, seeking company from other alcoholics,
dependency on alcohol throughout the day, increased alcohol tolerance are also part of the
symptoms of alcoholism. The nurses in the community play a big role in recovery of a patient
(Ramamoorthi, 2015). Nurses that handle drug and substance abuse like alcohol are referred to as
general practice nurses or practice nurses. They deal with detection and management of patients
with alcohol misuse. On primary basis, the nurse provides and learns more information on
alcohol and their effects on medication like antidepressants and anti-psychotic medications in
order to protect the patients suffering from mental health issues. However what’s more alarming
is the fact that the risks involved with alcohol use are far much more harming than the
advantages it may offer (Edenberg & Foroud, 2013). They include: Alcohol dependency: it’s
harder to stop drinking once a person begins drinking. It’s harder for one to accomplish tasks let
alone on time when under influence of alcohol at work, school or at home. It takes medication
and more so interventions for alcoholic to recover. One is in danger of always be in dangerous
places or being a danger to other people. More to that, alcoholics tend to face legal matters
constantly due to violating laws like driving under influence, fights with fellow citizens,
vandalism amongst many others. They also tend to have relationship wrangles with spouses,
family, children, friends and colleagues (Inder et al., 2012).
The Local Government area Parramatta is a suburb which is about 20 km away from
Sydney and according to the census of 2011, there were 19,745 people in the area having

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majority of males (52%) over females (48%). The average age of people of Parramatta is 30
years and within this 65.3% people are over the age of 15 (Parramatta localstats, 2018). These
people are fulltime employees and works as labor force in organizations. However, it should be
mentioned that the rate of unemployment in Parramatta is 9% and more than 60% homes in the
LGA are rented. Therefore, from this demographical characteristics, it can be clearly observed
that the rate of less educated or illiterate people are higher in this LGA as that made them work
as laborer in organizations. Further, there are other factors in this LGA that increases the stress
level of people living in this area such as rented house, less availability to proper professional
scope, educational barriers and social discrimination that force people to choose drug or
alcoholic addition to overcome these concerns (Parramatta localstats, 2018).
Further, while describing the role of these social concerns in increasing the rate of
alcoholism in the younger generation is higher than any other issues. Social system affects social
inclusion and increases depression and other psychological problems. Many researchers
identified psychological disorder as the prime reason for alcoholism in younger generation.
According to Tam, Zwar & Markham (2013), alcohol affects the central nervous system and
provides a sense of calm and happiness. However daily consumption of it increases the agitation
level and leads to palpitation. Further researchers also thinks that alcoholism traits can be genetic
and behavior also plays an important role to manifest it within the personality of the person
(Inder et al., 2012).
The data below represents statistical data collected by the Local Government Areas
(LGAs) and Local Health Districts (LHDs) in Parramatta, Australia.
Alcohol Abuse in: Daily Drinkers Occasional Drinkers

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Adults 7.5% of over 16 years 18% of over 16 years
14.8% for over 65
years
25.9 % for over 65
years
School Students 58.8% between 12-17
years in Western Sydney and
Nepan Blue mountains
10.4% between 12-17
years
23.3 % for NSW 14.0% for NSW
Alcohol affects not only the physical, but also emotional and psychological state of a
person. Parramatta has recorded that pregnant women who engage in drinking alcohol results to
the children contracting fetal alcohol syndrome.it also results to other physical syndromes that
led to mental health problems like alcohol psychosis, alcohol dependence syndrome and alcohol
related dementia (Sørensen et al., 2012). There are many cases that have been reported in
hospitals and other private agencies. Records from the national survey of metal health show that
6.5% Australians suffer from 6.5% in a year and 9.4% males and 3.7% female. Long – term
(Inder et al., 2012)

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heavy drinking can lead to depression and anxiety. Schizophrenia has been largely linked to
alcoholism in past studies. The studies have shown person with schizophrenia to being
aggressive once under influence of alcohol (Hernandez, Leontini & Harley, 2013).
Alcohol also increases the effect of sedatives such as antidepressants like amitriptyline
which impairs metal skills and can cause drivers to cause accidents. Similarly, thiamin
deficiency found in most drinkers can lead to Wernicke – Korsakov syndrome which can cause
brain hemorrhages. Other conditions related to thiamine deficiency include Korsakov alcoholic
psychosis and alcoholic cardiomyopathy (Edenberg & Foroud, 2013). The ABS recorded over
40% sexual violence to women by men under alcohol influence in the past 20 years above the
age of 15 years. The youth have also been recorded to cause over 6% of social destruction mostly
in pubs and clubs. The age group most prevalent in crimes is between 14 and 24 years. More to
hat, according to the National Drug National Household Survey (NDNHS), there were over 49%
reports by people living in a community with alcoholics (Inder et al., 2012).
Families with alcoholics have been known to report cases of violence and conflicts with a
16% record of child abuse. Physical abuse to the women in the house has been reported at 43.8%
with most of the abuse happening in clubs (47.3%) and (20%) being the resultative fear for those
at home (Hernandez, Leontini & Harley, 2013).
From the data alone, it’s clear that a high percentage of young underage persons are
abusing alcohol both daily and occasionally. More to that, there number of people over drinking
during occasions for the adults is quite high especially for the elderly. According to Parramatta
LGAs and LHDs, 23.9 deaths and 13640 hospitalization cases reported in hospitals and to the
local government are due to alcohol influence or effects. In west Sydney alone, there were 680.4

8COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING: ALCOHOLISM IN PARRAMATTA
deaths per 100,000 population attributed to alcohol between 2014-2015 compared to 67106 for
NSW.
In 2015, KFC applied for a liquor license after it opened a store on Church Street in
Parramatta in a bid to join the countless fast food chains like Mad Mex. Guzman y Gomez,
Grilld and Nando’s who were selling fast-food and alcohol as a form of beverage. The health
advocate however sought to have the licenses cancelled on basis of whether the local or broader
community’s wellbeing would be affected. Though many people were against it as KFC was
regarded to as a family fast food joint. Associating the brand with alcohol would influence the
kids to the harmful drink as Professor Daube alluded. He said that most of the local
advertisements have brainwashed the kids to pressure to drink alcohol and if a big brand like
KFC ran adverts on alcoholic drinks, the kids would surely follow up to buy it (ABC News,
2015).
While discussing the role of nursing professionals in managing the alcoholism related
health issue in Parramatta, there are several intervention that the healthcare professionals can
implement. These interventions are of primary, secondary or tertiary intervention that helps to
determine the effectiveness of the health promotional campaign (Taggart et al., 2012). They
should primarily organize health promotion camp so that providing assistance to patients
suffering from alcohol use disorder and taking care of elderly people who have high prevalence
for alcohol becomes easier. Further through this they help recovering alcoholics to get back into
the normal routines and live better lifestyles than drinking through analysis if the life they had
with the life they would desire to have. To alcohol positive patients they can administer
medication like chlormethiazole to deal with withdrawal and multivitamins to improve the

9COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING: ALCOHOLISM IN PARRAMATTA
body’s immunity (Chan & perry, 2012). Further on secondary intervention they will be studying
the alcohol cases reported in the hospital and will recommend policies changes to the health
institute and government agencies as well(Taggart et al., 2012). Using guidelines from the
EPHPP (Effective public Health Practice Project) as quality assessments tools and guidelines
from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), they are able to recommend the
best intervention methods for people using alcohol. On the tertiary basis, they will raise
awareness on social and legal implications of excessive alcohol consumption to both individuals
and other people in the community as well to show the avenues for effecting changes that show
negative implications on health and well-being of individuals (Chan & Perry, 2012).
While concluding, it can be said that alcoholism is greatly rooted in Parramatta city in
Australia and to remove this addiction from the personality of the young generation of
Parramatta, harsh and effective steps need to be taken. Though the state of over use of alcohol is
quite alarming and disturbing it’s comforting that the local government in partnership with other
institutions from health to private organizations, have taken great strides to reduce and also
manage alcohol use among the residents of Parramatta. This is a step creates awareness of
alcoholism in the state, the heavily affected northern territory and the rest of Australia as well.
Alcoholism is a condition that can be overcome.

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