The rate of alcohol dependence among Indigenous Aussies is similar to that of general population

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-04-26 05:00

Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; NT

Around 1 in 45 Indigenous Australians report they are dependent on alcohol, a level similar to that of general Australian populations, according to a representative survey. The researchers surveyed two South Australian communities—one urban and one remote, to obtain a representative sample that allowed them to estimate the prevalence of current alcohol dependence in Indigenous Australian communities. They found that overall, 2.2 per cent were likely dependent on alcohol (17 out of 775) and that this rate did not vary by remoteness. The authors say the finding is important given the common negative stereotyping of Indigenous Australians and their use of alcohol as portrayed in Australian society and media.

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Journal/
conference: Drug and Alcohol Review

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The University of Sydney, La Trobe University, Menzies School of Health Research, The University of Queensland, Griffith University, 4Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council South Australia, Curtin University, The Edith Collins Centre (Translational Research in Alcohol Drugs and Toxicology)

Funder: This work is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council via the Centre of Research Excellence in Indigenous Health and Alcohol (#1117198), a Project Grant (#1087192) and a Practitioner Fellowship for KC (#1117582). RR’s work is supported by the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education.

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