Drinking Patterns, Gender And Social Roles In Alcohol Problems In Victoria, In An International Comparative Context
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,239.00
Summary
The varied impacts of drinking in the family and other gendered relations are an important and understudied aspect of alcohol studies, with general social and policy implications. The proposed research will make an important contribution to developing quantitative research in this area in Australia. The project uses concepts and measures which are novel in an Australian environment, and the international comparative aspect of the project, with comparable questionnaires in a wide diversity of soc ....The varied impacts of drinking in the family and other gendered relations are an important and understudied aspect of alcohol studies, with general social and policy implications. The proposed research will make an important contribution to developing quantitative research in this area in Australia. The project uses concepts and measures which are novel in an Australian environment, and the international comparative aspect of the project, with comparable questionnaires in a wide diversity of societies, is novel and innovative for the alcohol research field in general. Measures of social problems from drinking, and particularly and family and relationship, developed in analysing the study material will be made more broadly available for use in future studies, raising the possibility that the study may serve as a first measurement point for future data-series over time.Read moreRead less
Alcohol Consumption And Health Inequalities - The Role Of Alcohol Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
This fellowship will fund a program of work examining the contribution of alcohol consumption and related harm to socioeconomic inequalities in Australian's health. A particular focus will be on the role of alcohol policy in perpetuating or reduction health inequalities. The fellowship will involve the collection of new and important data and the use of innovative analytical approaches to explore these issues.
Reducing Alcohol-related Harm In Rural Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,000.00
Summary
In 1992 in Australia, there were an estimated 3,660 alcohol-related deaths and 71,593 alcohol-related hospital episodes, resulting in a total economic cost of $4,031.9 million, 84% of which was avoidable. In 1998, about half of all males and a third of all females drank at least once a month at levels that placed them at risk of harm. In NSW, alcohol was estimated as being a causal factor in about one-quarter of all road traffic deaths in 1995 and was associated with a 58% increase in hospital u ....In 1992 in Australia, there were an estimated 3,660 alcohol-related deaths and 71,593 alcohol-related hospital episodes, resulting in a total economic cost of $4,031.9 million, 84% of which was avoidable. In 1998, about half of all males and a third of all females drank at least once a month at levels that placed them at risk of harm. In NSW, alcohol was estimated as being a causal factor in about one-quarter of all road traffic deaths in 1995 and was associated with a 58% increase in hospital utilistion rates between 1988-89 and 1990-91. The burden of suffering appears disproportionately higher in rural areas of NSW: per capita rate of convictions associated with a prescribed alcohol concentration in rural towns was approximately double that in metropolitan areas in 2000. The rate of attendances at hospital accident and emergency departments was also higher in rural areas. These data suggest a need for additional effort to reduce alcohol-related harm in rural, relative to metropolitan, areas. In Australia, there have been no well-controlled, community-based, attempts to reduce alcohol-related harm by simultaneously implementing a range of interventions. The conduct of a large-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effectiveness of this approach is difficult to justify, due to the substantial costs associated with such a rigorous design. However, a less rigorus, though equally valid, design, such as a stepped wedged approach, would likely provide good evidence to justify the subsequent conduct of an RCT. If the expected outcomes are not achieved, the conduct of an RCT can be postponed until reasonable preliminary evidence regarding the types of community-based interventions most likely to be effective is obtained. In either case, this study will provide valuable information as to which community-based interventions, and in what combination, are most likely to reduce the occurrence of alcohol-related harm in rural communities in Australia.Read moreRead less
Driving Under The Influence Of Psychoactive Prescription Benzodiazepines And Alcohol
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Driving enables people to travel to work and social events, and is thus an important determinant of quality of life. Driving is also a potentially dangerous activity, as there is a risk of becoming involved in accidents. In fact, car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death. Whilst alcohol remains the most prevalent drug causing impairment of driving performance, other drugs, especially in combination with alcohol, are thought to increase collision risk.
An Examination Of The Relationship Between Alcohol-related Injury (ARI) And Licensed Premises
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,686.00
Summary
There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the d ....There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the drinking location. Characteristics of drinking locations and drinking settings, in particular licensed premises, will be examined to determine their association with ARIs. Then an intervention will be undertaken in conjunction with local police, to address the conditions of the drinking environment with the aim of reducing ARIs and other alcohol-related problems stemming from licensed premises. The intervention will form part of a randomised controlled trial where licensed premises, identified through monthly police data as hot spots, receive either an intervention or act as a control. In the following month, controls receive the intervention (a cross-over design). The intervention was established in 1998 by Gold Coast police and involves police, fire and liquor licensing officers undertaking an on-site inspection and taking prescribed actions. It is hypothesised that this action should result in a decreased level of ARIs being generated from premises which receive the intervention, compared to those that do not. This is an intersectoral, collaborative project aimed at improving community safety through a concerted effort by police, health and the licensees.Read moreRead less
A New, Low-cost E-health Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder Using Mental Imagery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$895,032.00
Summary
This project offers the first large-scale test of phone-based Functional Imagery Training (FIT), a new, low-cost way to help people change behaviours using mental imagery, regardless of where they live. The trial addresses Alcohol Use Disorder—a common problem with substantial health and social impacts, comparing FIT with verbal motivational treatments, and testing effects on alcohol use and quality of life over 12 months. Cost-effectiveness and predictions of outcome are also examined.
Can Pharmacotherapy Prevent Alcohol Driven Suicides?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people and the 5th highest for people in their middle age. Harmful use of alcohol can be attributed to around a third of suicides, and there is evidence that alcohol related suicides represent a clinically distinct type of suicide. This research aims to identify medications that have the potential prevent alcohol related suicides by targeting behaviours associated with alcohol use.
Longitudinal Study Of Modifiable Influences For The Development Of Harmful Young Adult Alcohol Use And Related-problems.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,484,496.00
Summary
Young adulthood is a time of high vulnerability for alcohol use problems that are the major preventable contributor to death and injury in this age period. This 5-year project will identify modifiable influences in adolescence and young adulthood that contribute to harmful alcohol use. A cohort of almost 3,000 young people initially recruited in Victoria in 2002 (aged 11 to 15) will be followed for two further waves of data collection in 2010-11 (age 19 to 23) and 2012-13 (age 21 to 25).
Acute And Chronic Effects Of Alcohol On Sleep And Sleep Related Brain Functioning In Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk of physical injury and risky sexual behaviour, particularly in adolescence and young adulthood. Little is known about alcohols impact on brain activity during sleep in this age group. This project investigates whether brain synchronisation during sleep is an early marker of alcohol related brain damage in late adolescence and if acute intoxication disrupts sleep related memory processes during this critical developmental period
The Effectiveness Of A Responsible Hospitality Audit And Feedback Intervention To Reduce Alcohol Related Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,875.00
Summary
Alcohol is a major cause of death, injury and illness in Australia accounting for over 3,000 deaths and over 72,000 hospital admissions each year. Excessive drinking is estimated to cost the Australian community $7,560 million each year, representing 22% of all drug-related harm. Alcohol is a significant contributor to the occurrence of violence and crime. It is estimated that up to 70% of incidents attended by the police, and 77% of street offences such as assaults and malicious damage to prope ....Alcohol is a major cause of death, injury and illness in Australia accounting for over 3,000 deaths and over 72,000 hospital admissions each year. Excessive drinking is estimated to cost the Australian community $7,560 million each year, representing 22% of all drug-related harm. Alcohol is a significant contributor to the occurrence of violence and crime. It is estimated that up to 70% of incidents attended by the police, and 77% of street offences such as assaults and malicious damage to property, are alcohol-related. It is also estimated that 70% to 80% of night-time single-vehicle accidents are alcohol-related. A large proportion of assaults, offensive behaviour, malicious damage to property and drink driving occur following excessive drinking at licensed premises such as hotels and registered clubs. The risk of harm arising from the consumption of alcohol on licensed premises can be reduced by modifying such factors as service of alcohol to intoxicated patrons, service-supply of alcohol to underage patrons, management practices (eg. late closing) and environmental factors (eg. poor lighting). Auditing of licensed premises is an approach currently used by authorities to ensure compliance with licensing requirements. However, such audits do not focus on harm reduction and do not incorporate best practice audit and behaviour change features. No controlled studies have reported the effectiveness of such an audit approach in reducing the risk of violence and crime emanating from hotels and registered clubs. The proposed study aims to assess the effectiveness of a Responsible Hospitality Audit and feedback intervention in reducing service to intoxicated and underage patrons, and in reducing assaults-malicious damage to property following alcohol consumption on licensed premises. The outcomes of this study will be improved responsible service of alcohol actions and reduced alcohol-related crime associated with premises.Read moreRead less