West Australia: Trauma specialists reveal that alcohol is linked to about 20% of Royal Perth Hospital’s trauma admissions. At least 12 West Australians per day need to be treated by paramedics because of alcohol use.
Research contributes more evidence: One Australian teenager dies and more than 60 are admitted to hospital each week due to alcohol-related incidents. Teenagers who start using alcohol before the age of 15 are five times more likely to become dependent on alcohol than those who do not start until they are 21.
More than 18% of trauma patients admitted using alcohol or other drugs before they were injured and about 30% of road victims admitted being affected by alcohol.
Domestic violence is also often fuelled by alcohol use.