EditorialWith new statistics forecasting more than 300 alcohol-related deaths and more than 12,000 hospitalisations attributable to alcohol during the summer months in New South Wales alone, a newly formed coalition of health, medical, community, law enforcement, emergency services and research organisations are calling for the introduction of effective alcohol policy reform.
The New South Wales ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance (NAAPA) a newly-formed, formidable, 27-strong coalition has a message for the NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell. The heavy personal and financial toll resulting from alcohol-related harms does not need to be so high.
Fittingly, that message was delivered loud and clear at Parliament House in Sydney at the official launch of NAAPA on Thursday 13 December 2012.
Mr Tony Brown, Dr John Crozier, Ms Jo Holder, Mr Peter Remfrey, Ms Regina Sutton, Mr Scott Webber, and Mr Michael Thorn at the NAAPA launch event, NSW Parliament House
NAAPA has been formed to promote and lobby for evidence-based actions to prevent and reduce acute and chronic alcohol-related harms in NSW and the ACT. It includes among its members the Australian Medical Association (NSW) Police Association of New South Wales and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).
Associate Professor Brian Owler, Australian Medical Association (NSW) said it is critical that the NSW Government understands the extent and devastating impact of alcohol harms across the State, and adopt effective measures that could go a long way to reducing it.
“NAAPA will cast a bright light to demonstrate more comprehensively the long and short term harms from alcohol misuse. We are here to provide solutions; solutions based in evidence, solutions that if not implemented will see the alcohol harms continue,” Associate Professor Owler said.
Those alcohol harms will spike during the summer months. Seasonally-adjusted statistics including newly released data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics point to the extent of the summer alcohol harms throughout the State forecasting more than 7,800 alcohol-related assaults and over $12 million in police time spent dealing with alcohol-related crime.
Facial surgeon, Dr Peter Aquilina knows only too well the devastating impact of alcohol harms. Speaking at the launch he admitted he witnesses such cases so frequently that he has become desensitised.
“Young men and women with their noses spread against their faces, the patient with his jaw in so many pieces that he can’t close his mouth and he’s dribbling blood and saliva onto the emergency department floor, the young woman who has lost all her front teeth to a single punch and now can’t afford the expensive dental treatment that would return her face to some semblance of normality; and the patient who is now blind; his eye socket smashed into pieces by a punch or kick,” Dr Aquilina said.
Dr Peter Aquilina presenting at the NAAPA launch event, NSW Parliament House
Associate Professor Owler said NSW hospitals are under enormous pressure and believes that reducing the numbers of alcohol-related cases would be a great outcome for every patient in the state. Those thoughts are echoed by Dr Aquilina who stresses the effects don’t just impact those that are immediately involved.
“Hospital beds and theatre slots are a precious resource. Every time I take a patient to theatre after hours to treat their facial injuries it is a possibility that your elderly relative may have their operation to fix their fractured hip delayed. Every time I take one of these patients to theatre during the in-hours of my regular operating list there is a possibility that I might need to postpone someone’s operation for corrective facial surgery, someone that may have been waiting months or even years,” Dr Aquilina said.
At the launch, FARE Chief Executive, Michael Thorn unveiled an online campaign aimed at further highlighting the summer alcohol harms.
Mr Thorn says NSW can count on a heavy summer alcohol toll but he stressed there is a solution, revealing NAAPA’s policy priorities; three areas where the NSW Government can have the greatest influence in reducing alcohol related harms; availability, pricing and promotion, and the rights of communities.
“In NSW we have a public that wants something done about this problem. We have evidence-based solutions ready to implement, and we have a strong, formidable coalition, speaking with one voice, advocating for proven alcohol policy measures that if implemented will save lives and make for a more sober community,” Mr Thorn said.
Mr Thorn says NAAPA has a clear message for Premier Barry O’Farrell. “NAAPA is here, NAAPA has the solutions, and NAAPA will be at the door calling for action, until meaningful action is taken,” Mr Thorn said.
Find out more about NAAPA, it’s policy priorities, and how to get involved
Listen to audio files from the event:
- 01 Welcome
- 02 Launch of NAAPA
- 03 Alcohol-related hospitalisations
- 04 Alcohol and the long term harms
- 05 NAAPA priorities and summer harms
- 06 Closing remarks
Check out the Storify story of the launch event:
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