‘Alcogenic Society’: Australia Faces Rise in Severe Disease Due to Alcohol
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October 2022
In 2021, alcohol-induced deaths increased to the highest rate in a decade in Australia. The rise in alcohol deaths is driven by a marked increase in the death rate among men and increased deaths due to illnesses arising from long-term or chronic alcohol use, including liver cirrhosis.
The root cause of the problem is the alcogenic society in Australia, perpetuated and exploited by the alcohol industry to increase the availability of alcohol products to maximize profits at the cost of the health and wellbeing of people.
Alcohol-induced deaths are at the highest level in a decade in Australia. Hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are experiencing a massive influx of patients with diseases caused by alcohol.
In the face of this steep increase of alcohol deaths and diseases, Australian ‘alcogenic society’ has been identified as cause – a pervasive alcohol norm pushing alcohol into all aspects of life in Australia and driving alcohol use and harm.
On October 19, 2022, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released data on alcohol-induced deaths in 2021. The new data revealed alcohol-induced deaths are at the highest level in the last 10 years.
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- In 2021, there were 1,559 people who died of an alcohol-induced death, comprising 1,156 men and 403 women.
- There was a 5.8% increase in the rate of alcohol-induced deaths, with 107 additional deaths since 2020.
- For males, the rate is the highest in the ten-year time series at 8.3 deaths per 100,000 people (8.1% increase since 2020).
- The rate for females remained the same as in 2020.
5.8% Increase in alcohol-induced deaths in Australia – There was a 5.8% increase in the rate of alcohol-induced deaths, with 107 additional deaths since 2020. This was the highest rate recorded in a decade.
For more Dalgarno Institute Website - ‘Alcogenic Society’: Australia Faces Rise in Severe Disease Due to Alcohol
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Drug Use Decriminalization, as a ‘standalone policy’, it’s a disaster!
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This brief expose’ below is the inevitable outcome of ever permissive drug policy interpretations. This is happening in several States in the U.S. and it is literally a nightmare, not only for the hapless substance user, but all those around them. The A.C.T. in Australia have just stepped into this space and the proponents of this toxic experiment will work tirelessly to sanitize the outcomes.
However, if drug addiction is a ‘disease’ then fundamental aetiology of disease management is being utterly ignored. The two fundamentals are to reduce both exposure and susceptibility to said ‘disease’. Increased permission for drug use is antithetical to best practice disease management – it only increases exposure and susceptibility to the potential for drug use disorders and addiction.
This is shocking bad #publichealth policy: NIGHTMARE CITY: How Portland’s Decriminalization Of Hard Drugs Destroyed The City also see ‘Loving People to Death’ Facebook Seattle
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Substance Use and Stigma – What are the drivers for stigma?
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Is the fact that someone simply uses a drug that makes them the target of derision and abuse? Clearly not, as it seems very fashionable for growing demographics to enter into the ‘recreational use’ of drugs. So, what is it that actually attracts the ire that can, at times, pronounce pejoratives over some drug using punters?
“INTERPRETATIONS OF SOCIAL STIGMA CAN BE LINKED TO SEVERAL MEASURES. OUR FIRST POINT OF UNDERSTANDING MUST COME FROM INVESTIGATING THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD STIGMA. ACCORDING TO MERRIAM-WEBSTER IT REFERS TO A MARK, AND NOT SO MUCH IN RELATION TO A ‘BLEMISH AGAINST ONE’S NAME’, (SOCIO-ETHICAL DISAPPROVAL) BUT VERY MUCH MORE TO DO WITH A ‘BRANDING’, A SOCIAL STATUS THAT DERIVES FROM THE ORIGINAL NOMENCLATURE, WHICH REFERS TO THAT OF A SLAVE.
This social status identifier was directly linked to being ‘owned’ – the property of someone, or something. This ‘branding’ then shaped the identity by stripping away personhood, self-governance/ agency and capacity, as you were now first and foremost property, not person. The removal of that ‘stigma’ and the restoration of human dignity came when one was out from under, not the ‘label’, but the ownership, the dominion/control of that one or thing.”
Visit Drug_Use_Stigma. and Ripple Effect – Chemsex, Violence, Road Toll, and the Growing Failure of Misused Drug Policy: Reducing or Increasing Harms?
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One of the quickest ways to teen and future adult addiction, is Vaping Nicotine! Vape lab test: No wonder nicotine hooks teens
A flagrant black market is selling vapes and e-cigarettes containing nicotine to young people in plain sight of authorities and in contravention of the law, exposing a new generation to the highly addictive substance.
Nearly all store-bought vapes contain the chemical nicotine, despite not stating so on the packaging, threatening to undo decades of public health campaigning on the dangers of smoking.
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Health experts said the true toll of vaping may not be known for years as convenience stores and tobacconists continue to sell vapes with near impunity.
Tobacconists in inner Sydney sold The Oz vapes without asking for proof-of-age identification or a valid prescription for nicotine e-cigarettes, which is a requirement by law.
None of the vapes said they contained nicotine on the packaging and only one tobacconist said that the vape they sold The Oz contained nicotine, an IGET Shion Pod. They did not ask for a prescription.
Independent testing by the University of Wollongong (UOW) confirmed all but one of the four store-bought vapes – a strawberry lychee flavoured One Vape – contained the highly addictive chemical.
Dr Celine Kelso said the UOW’s School of Chemistry has tested hundreds of vapes. She said all contained nicotine except for the one supplied by The Oz For more go to Vape lab test: No wonder nicotine hooks teens
Also see
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Physical domestic violence was 11 times more likely on days of heavy drinking or drug use – The link between alcohol/drug addiction and domestic violence
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COMMUNITY VOICES September, 2022 BECCI TEN BENSEL
Executive director for Women’s Rural Advocacy Programs
September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, promoting new treatment options for those struggling with addiction and emphasizing the need for strong community support.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), a study found that physical domestic violence was 11 times more likely on days of heavy drinking or drug use. Domestic violence can appear in a variety of ways including physical, sexual, mental, emotional, financial, etc. (See also Role of Illicit Drug Use in Domestic Violence (Aust) and
In supportive services for domestic violence victims, it is common knowledge that experts believe that domestic violence comes from a need to control others and have power over others.
Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol may have difficulty thinking rationally and they are more likely to act out violently. According to the ASAM, substance use disorders occur in between 40% to 60% of incidents of intimate partner violence. Alcohol was found to be a factor in 30% to 40% of incidents involving a male abuser, and 27% to 34% of incidents involving a female abuser.
Furthermore, if the victim of a domestic violence assault is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, they may have difficulties accurately assessing the danger that they are in and, in some situations, can worsen the situation, as well.
According to Addiction Group, data shows that 45% of abusive partners, which have been convicted of the murder, were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident that resulted in the death of the victim. In these cases, the average blood alcohol concentration was three times the legal limit. (See also Alcohol and Other Drug Use & Dating Violence. ) (See also, Alcohol and drug use exacerbate family violence and can be dealt with )
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) reports that women are more likely to do drugs with an intimate partner, whereas men are more likely to do drugs with other male friends. The NCDAS also reports that women participating in the drug trade is predominantly affected by socioeconomic vulnerability, economic difficulties, trafficking, violence, and intimate relationships. Meaning that women in abusive relationships are often forced to buy and sell illegal substances by their partner. For complete article go to The link between alcohol/drug addiction and domestic violence
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RESET Alcohol
New Global Initiative to Challenge Alcohol Harms
“10% of all deaths among people 15-49 are alcohol related!
“10 Seconds is how often someone somewhere dies from alcohol-related harms!”
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“Every year, alcohol use cuts millions of lives short and causes even more widespread suffering,” said Adam Karpati, Senior Vice President, Public Health Programs at Vital Strategies. “The onus can't be on individuals. We must reset from an environment where the alcohol industry is empowered to push alcohol into nearly every aspect of our lives, including schools, sports, and media. We need policies that protect kids, make healthy choices the easy choices, and check industry’s influence. RESET Alcohol will do just that through strong partnerships with government and civil society leaders who are committed to action.”
RESET Alcohol is a collaboration of six global organizations: Vital Strategies, which is leading the initiative; Movendi International; the University of Illinois Chicago; the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA); the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance; and World Health Organization (WHO).
(The Dalgarno Institute are standing members of Movendi International, and are pleased to endorse this growing endeavour – it is way past time the predatory Alcohol Industry was seriously brought to account #alcoholawareness)
For more information Dalgarno Institute Website - RESET Alcohol
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8-week mindfulness program ‘as effective’ as antidepressant for treating anxiety
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A first-of-its-kind study shows that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is “as effective” as the antidepressant escitalopram for reducing anxiety symptoms. Milles Studio/Stocksy
- Anxiety disorders impact millions of people worldwide.
- Treatments for anxiety disorders include medications and psychotherapy. Although effective, these options may not always be accessible or appropriate for some people.
- Preliminary evidence suggests that mindfulness may reduce anxiety symptoms. Yet, no study has examined how its effectiveness compares to antidepressant medications used to treat anxiety disorders.
- Now, a first-of-its-kind study has found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is “as effective” as the antidepressant escitalopram for reducing anxiety symptoms.
- The researchers suggest their findings provide evidence that MBSR is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for anxiety disorders. for more (medicalnewstoday.com) See also Humpty Dumpty Resilience Education (nobrainer.org.au)
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Can’t Sleep? Self-Medication is Not Good Practice
If you have a substance use disorder (SUD), it’s common to have insomnia. That’s when you have trouble falling or staying asleep. Experts think there may be a brain connection between the two. That’s because a lack of sleep puts you in a state of “hyperarousal.” And like other kinds of stress, this can raise the chances you’ll abuse drugs.
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Some substances change how you go through your sleep stages. You may not get the right amount of non-rapid eye movement (NREM). That’s when you get your deep sleep. Drugs can also mess with your rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, where you do your dreaming and move around more.
Substance abuse can lead to:
- Night-time wakefulness
- Less “good” sleep
- Lower overall sleep time
- Strong daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Which Drugs Affect Sleep?
There are a lot of substances that can disrupt your sleep. You may have problems getting ZZZs even when you take a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drug the right way. Tell your doctor if this happens to you. They may want to change your medicine or lower the dose.
But you may not get a good night’s rest if you abuse:
Prescription, nonprescription, and OTC medicines that can cause sleep problems include:
For more Sleep and Substance Misuse: The Tie-In (webmd.com)
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More and More Kids Poisoned by Cannabis Candies and More!
The Continued Rise of Unintentional Ingestion of Edible Cannabis in Toddlers—A Growing Public Health Concern.
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Children with THC intoxication can present with neurologic impairment, including lethargy, ataxia, tachycardia, mydriasis, seizures, altered mental status, and hypotonia. However, given the unpredictability of the dose ingested, patient presentation can vary. Altered mental status in children results in broad differential diagnoses ranging from traumatic to infectious causes.
Therefore, acutely altered mental status in children with an undiagnosed cannabis ingestion has led to prolonged hospitalizations with extensive and invasive diagnostic testing, including laboratory studies, lumbar punctures, electroencephalograms, and computed tomographic scans of the head to aid in diagnosis. Although most patients require routine observation in the ED or inpatient hospital unit, some patients require intensive interventions, including airway support and management, in the pediatric intensive care unit. For more go to More and More Kids Poisoned by Cannabis Candies and More! (nobrainer.org.au)
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Cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with mental disorders in children that persist into early adolescence
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NIH-funded results add to growing scientific evidence of negative health effects of cannabis use during pregnancy
Prenatal cannabis exposure following the middle of the first trimester—generally after five to six weeks of fetal development—is associated with attention, social, and behavioral problems that persist as the affected children progress into early adolescence (11 and 12 years of age), according to new research supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. These conditions may put these children at a greater risk of mental health disorders and substance use in late adolescence, when youth are typically most vulnerable to these disorders and behaviors
These findings add to an expanding body of research on the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy. A previous analysis using baseline data from the ABCD Study found an association between prenatal cannabis exposure and behavioral problems in these children at 9 to 10 years of age. Preclinical studies have shown that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive substance in cannabis, can cross the placenta and potentially affect brain development. For complete research go to National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov) Also See Maternal cannabis use in pregnancy and child neurodevelopmental outcomes
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Atrial Fibrillation from the ‘Chill’ Drug? Hmmm only News to some!
Marijuana Can Help Trigger Dangerous A-Fib - 20/10 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Using marijuana increases the risk of developing the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation (a-fib), a new study suggests.
It's been known that drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine and opiates can directly affect the heart and cause abnormal rhythms like a-fib, but weed can increase the risk by 35%, researchers found.
"There is a common perception that cannabis may be healthy because it's 'natural,'" said lead researcher Dr. Gregory Marcus, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. "But as laws become more lenient in allowing use of these substances, it's important to recognize adverse consequences that may substantially impact the lives of users."
"These data are sufficiently compelling to suggest that cannabis users suffering from atrial fibrillation should at least experiment with cessation to see if it indeed has a meaningful effect on their particular arrhythmia," Marcus said. "Once one has had an episode of atrial fibrillation, I find that patients are often especially eager to identify anything they can do to avoid subsequent episodes."
For complete article Marijuana Use Can Trigger Dangerous A-Fib - WebMD
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Marijuana May Ease Symptoms of Depression – But Only Make Your Depression Worse
There is some evidence that marijuana can reduce symptoms of depression in the short term. Some users say it helps them feel more relaxed, happy, and peaceful.mA 2020 study published in The Journal of Biology and Medicine found that about 95% of people said marijuana gave them rapid short-term relief from depression symptoms.
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A study published in 2018 in the Journal of Affective Disorders reported similar fast-acting benefits. It found that people who took just two puffs of medical marijuana said the drug improved their symptoms of depression by about 50%. But continued use seemed to worsen their symptoms.
Bottom Line: Right now, there’s no good evidence that marijuana can give you long-term relief from depression. More studies show the drug can have harmful effects when you have the mood disorder, particularly if you begin use in your teens. Depression and Marijuana: What to Know (webmd.com)
More research says…
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“Weed is better for you than alcohol! Most people with a choice will ditch booze for Pot!”
Association of Recreational Cannabis Legalization With Alcohol Use Among Adults in the US, 2010 to 2019 (now a substance use multiplier!)
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Conclusions and Relevance: This cross-sectional study and difference-in-differences analysis found that recreational cannabis laws in the US may be associated with increased alcohol use, primarily among younger adults and men.
For complete research JAMA Health Forum – Health Policy, Health Care Reform, Health Affairs | JAMA Health Forum
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Cannabis oil failed to improve pain or quality of life in palliative care cancer patients, study shows
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Researchers say despite the lack of symptom relief, more trials are needed to focus on the targeted use of medicinal cannabis
The first high quality study looking at the impact of cannabidiol oil on palliative care patients with advanced cancer found it did not improve their pain, depression, anxiety, or quality of life.
Palliative care is one of the conditions for which medicinal cannabis has been approved in Australia.
“The trial found there was no detectable effect of CBD on change in physical or emotional functioning, overall quality of life, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnoea or appetite loss,” lead author of the study and the director of palliative and supportive care at Mater, Prof Janet Hardy, said…The findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
For complete story Cannabis oil failed to improve pain or quality of life in palliative care cancer patients, study shows
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