Review of rural and regional alcohol research in Australia

Abstract

There is emerging research examining alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms within regional and rural Australia. All studies show that these populations experience disproportionate harm because of alcohol consumption. The causes and mechanism for this have not been investigated, and a program of research is required to understand how and why rural populations experience disproportionate levels of alcohol-related harm and ultimately, what interventions will be most effective in reducing alcohol-related harms.

Individual and district-level predictors of alcohol use: cross sectional findings from a rural mental health survey in Australia

“…This pattern is consistent with other high income countries [2]. The factors contributing to high-risk alcohol consumption within rural areas have not been adequately explained [3]. Alcohol use tends to be highest among young adult males and the role of rural culture and heavy alcohol use among men has been identified as important factors to address for the health and welfare of rural men [4].…”

The association between alcohol outlet density and alcohol use among urban and regional Australian adolescents

“…Adolescents and young adults living in regional, rural and remote areas are more likely to consume alcohol, particularly at risky levels, and experience alcohol-related harm, than those living in urban areas [5,6].…”

A Hard Road: Driving Local Action against Alcohol Related Problems in a Rural Town

“…The most commonly used recreational drug (Miller et al 2010), it is legal, widely promoted and marketed and socially accepted (Collins and Lapsley 2008). This is despite alcohol being a key factor affecting the health of Australians (National Prevention Health Taskforce 2009), and a major contributor to preventable disease, illness and death.…”

“…This is despite alcohol being a key factor affecting the health of Australians (National Prevention Health Taskforce 2009), and a major contributor to preventable disease, illness and death. It is also associated with social harms which cost in excess of $15 billion per year (Collins and Lapsley 2008), with serious long term health effects, disease, hospitalisations, accidents, violence, homicides and suicides (Miller et al 2010) Context is important in developing strategies to address alcohol related violence. Rural Australians experience a disproportionately high burden of alcohol-related harm compared to urban Australians (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2008).…”