Drug and alcohol use and abuse amongst teenagers in Tasmania is an ongoing struggle for professionals employed in and concerned about the health and welfare of youth in the state.
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Marion Hale, educator at the Drug Education Network Tasmania, said that although we hear a lot about alcohol and drugs among Tasmanian teenagers, statistics demonstrate that our biggest daily drinkers are actually the over-65-year-olds, with 50-year-olds the next cab off the rank.
The Australian Insititute of Health and Welfare’s 2016 national drug use survey revealed that more teenagers (aged between 12 and 17) were abstaining from alcohol, from 72 per cent in 2012 to 82 per cent in 2016, and significantly up from 56 per cent compared to a decade ago.
Despite this fact, the health and wellbeing of teenagers and young adults in Tasmania was still a concerning issue for the community and government.
Many young people are losing valuable time, direction and opportunities for future success because of drug and alcohol use.
“Peer pressure is a major factor for serious drug and alcohol use by young people because adolescence is a time where peer groups become the most important influence and source of information,” Ms Hale said.
It’s easy to get influenced into something you’re not necessarily wanting to do because that’s the prevailing culture of the day
- Marion Hale, educator at the Drug Education Network Tasmania
“It’s a time when we’re wanting to explore the world and find out new things about our personalities.
“It’s easy to get influenced into something you’re not necessarily wanting to do because that’s the prevailing culture of the day.”
She also explained that other reasons young people use alcohol and drugs can be to cover up loneliness, deal with the pressure and stress of decision making and studies, combined with personal relationship struggles.
The marginalised groups of adolescents that are most at risk from alcohol and drugs are those who are unemployed and homeless, so they need to be looked out for.
Ms Hale stressed that challenging Australia’s drinking culture was a huge undertaking for everyone in the community, so why would we expect young people not to drink at risky levels when this is the way society shows them?
If teens or adolescents are struggling with overuse of or addiction to drugs and alcohol and are seeking help, Ms Hale suggests that even someone as simple as your GP can help with this kind of problem.
There are many services that young people who want help for themselves, or a friend, can access, including:
- Cornerstone Youth Services, 186 Brisbane Street, Launceston. Phone 6335 3100, or visit cornerstoneyouthservices.com.au
- Alcohol and Drug Service, 13 Mulgrave Street, South Launceston. Phone 1300 139 641.