August 2010
"One punch" father slams booze violence action plan
The father of a teenage boy who was killed in an alcohol-fuelled attack has slammed the Queensland government's "softly, softly" plan to curb violence.
Brisbane Times, 31 August 2010
Fight against drug crime needs new strategy
The war metaphor, as a character in the television series The Wire says, is not a useful one for action against drug trafficking, because wars are eventually won by one of the belligerents.
Age, 31 August 2010
Alcohol bingeing in teens spurs call to increase legal drinking age
Health experts concerned about alcohol bingeing want the legal drinking age raised from 18 to 21.
Herald Sun, 31 August 2010
Pioneer in drink-drive reform
Anne Raymond, widely recognised as the person most responsible for the development and implementation of education programs for convicted drink drivers in Australia, died last week.
Age, 30 August 2010
Drink Safe Precintcs to protect partygoers from drug-fuelled violence
A major overhaul of Queensland's drinking culture will be spearheaded by a massive police blitz on new designated pub and club zones across the state.
Courier Mail, 29 August 2010
Premier Colin Barnett backs alcohol for 2011 Skyworks
Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett is spearheading a plan to remove booze bans on the Swan River foreshore for the 2011 Australia Day Skyworks.
Sunday Times, 28 August 2010
My name is Australia and I'm an alcoholic
As governments try to stamp out smoking, the most dangerous drug prevalent in Australian culture, alcohol, is considered a staple of our national identity.
Sydney Morning Herald, 27 August 2010
If you are sorry about drugs, name dealers
Ben Cousins should come clean and name his drug dealers if he is truly remorseful about his past drug abuse, Western Australia's top police officer says.
Adelaide Advertiser, 27 August 2010
Footage of Ben Cousins on drugs "may harm kids"
Channel Seven's publicity strategy for the independent film, which cost $800,000, was to encourage parents to watch with their children.
Australian, 27 August 2010
Every parent should watch the Ben Cousins documentary
I won't beat around the bush - the Ben Cousins documentary is confronting and intense. It is preceded with a series of warnings and that is for good reason. (John Rogerson, Australian Drug Foundation).
Adelaide Now, 26 August 2010
Cousins' leading concern
Ben Cousins' family says the decision of former club West Coast to appoint him captain, against their advice, accelerated his descent into drug addiction.
Age, 26 August 2010
Beyond the drinker: alcohol's hidden Cost shows it's time to curb this terrible thirst
Beyond the drinker: alcohol's hidden cost, is surely the jolt to action we so desperately need.
Courier Mail, 26 August 2010
Hard lesson for us all
The Australian Drug Foundation has expressed concern over the Ben Cousins documentary's content in regards to footage of Cousins' drug taking.
Herald Sun, 25 August 2010
Grog not an issue for Good Sports
Bellinger Valley-Dorrigo Magpies are the latest Group 2 rugby league outfit to receive Level 1 accreditation as a Good Sports member.
Coff's Coast Advocate, 25 August 2010
Cousins 'mourned' giving up drugs
Ben Cousins has spoken frankly about his drug addiction ahead of the airing of the Richmond onballer's documentary tonight, describing his battle with illicit drugs as "a journey inward".
Age, 25 August 2010
Doctors given dob-in exemption
GPs in WA have won a partial reprieve from national "doctors dobbing-in doctors" legislation which requires them to report colleagues who take illicit drugs, abuse alcohol or are involved in sexual misconduct.
West Australian, 24 August 2010
Booze abuse costs $36b every year
Drunkenness and alcoholism in Australia is said to be costing the community $36 billion a year - more than twice the previous estimate.
West Australian, 24 August 2010
Tackling a tough topic
Victorian schools and parents are bracing for the screening of the Ben Cousins documentary this Wednesday and Thursday.
Herald Sun, 23 August 2010
Believers see the light deep in the Peruvian jungle
A sludge-like potion called ayahuasca is becoming an elixir for foreigners grappling with everything from depression to childhood trauma.
Age, 22 August 2010
Coffee pot brews trouble for Dutch towns
Marc Josemans’ Easy Going Coffee Shop was packed, the lines to buy marijuana and hashish stretching to the reception area. Most were young. Few were Dutch.
Age, 21 August 2010
Drugs, alcohol a concern for youth
They might be a generation apart but a new Sunshine Coast survey has shown youth are just as concerned about drug and alcohol issues as their mums and dads.
Sunshine Coast Daily, 20 August 2010
Dutch move to can drug tourism
Struggling to reduce traffic jams and a high crime rate, the Dutch city of Maastrict is pushing to make its legalised use of recreational drugs a Dutch-only policy, banning sales to foreigners who cross the border to indulge.
Age, 20 August 2010
Essendon District League bans clubs from selling booze at matches
Footy clubs have been banned from selling booze at matches after drunken louts marred junior games.
Herald Sun, 20 August 2010
AFL tightens controls on players, media for Brownlow
Footballers will feature in TV ads about responsible drinking, and media access to the Brownlow Medal count will be restricted even further in response to Brendan Fevola's drunken debacle last year.
Age, 19 August 2010
Coalition backs heroin treatment
A coalition government would provide $1 million to a Perth naltrexone program for heroin addicts and consider supporting the rollout of the treatment nationally.
West Australian, 18 August 2010
Alcohol-free zones no longer automatically continued
In order to crack down on alcohol-related violence in Dubbo, Dubbo City Council will continue alcohol-free zones.
Daily Liberal, 18 August 2010
Sporting liquor accord: police, GDFL working on code of conduct
Geelong local league footballers might face stern club sanctions including suspensions for unruly behaviour under a pioneering sporting liquor accord being advocated by police.
Geelong Advertiser, 18 August 2010
Grog takes toll
Two Territorians have died in hospital and three people have lost an eye as a result of alcohol-fuelled violence - this year alone.
NT News, 17 August 2010
Hotels hunt drug dopes with sniffer dogs
Drug sniffer dogs are being used by pub owners to detect patrons breaking the law.
Daily Telegraph, 16 August 2010
Old-style bonding by booze brothers key to Blues stopping Maroons' State of Origin dominance
The drive to ditch the boozy, boofhead tag and clean up the game has come at a cost, according to some senior NSW players.
Courier Mail, 15 August 2010
Digital drug peddlers target teens with iDoses
Spaced-out adolescents in headphones litter YouTube, some panting and others wincing as they listen to droning, pulsating soundtracks known as iDoses.
Age, 14 August 2010
Don't show drugs, Cousins urged
The Australian Drug Foundation has urged Richmond's Ben Cousins and Channel Seven not to portray actual drug use in the upcoming documentary about the footballer's life.
Age, 12 August 2010
Ad warns of drug rooms on every corner
Family First has released an election ad warning the Greens "want to put heroin injecting rooms on every street corner".
Age, 12 August 2010
Educate teens on steroids, schools told
Schools were advised to broaden their drug education programs as research showed teens were experimenting with anabolic steroids.
Daily Telegraph, 12 August 2010
Seven to show Ben Cousins documentary before end of AFL season
A shirtless Ben Cousins is seen using drugs in an explosive tell-all documentary set to screen before the end of the AFL season.
Herald Sun, 11 August 2010
Ben comes clean for uni study
In A frank interview for a soon-to-be-published international academic journal, Ben Cousins has told a pair of Melbourne researchers how he had been treated more positively when receiving drug treatment in the US than in Australia.
Brisbane Times, 11 August 2010
AA cure for addicts lacks good evidence
When an alcoholic goes to rehab but does not recover, it is he who is said to have failed. But it is rehab that is failing alcoholics.
Brisbane Times, 11 August 2010
Young complacent about risky drinking
One in five Australians abuses or becomes addicted to alcohol in their lifetimes, according to the first nationwide study to nail down the long-term prevalence of drinking problems.
Age, 10 August 2010
Health group wants grog election promise
The National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA), a coalition of 32 health and community organisations, says there has been little focus or discussion on booze during the election campaign.
9 News, 10 August 2010
Alcohol abuse bad, and expected to get worse
One in five Australians abuses or becomes addicted to alcohol in their lifetime, according to the first nationwide study to pinpoint the long-term prevalence of drinking problems.
Age, 10 August 2010
Cherbourg Mayor Sam Murray wants to ban alcohol sold in bottles to protect children's feet
A mayor wants glass bottles banned in his town because of shocking injuries caused to children.
Courier Mail, 8 August 2010
Doctors push for 11am booze ban during Ashes WACA Test
Doctors want cricket fans to be banned from buying alcohol at the WACA Ground until mid-afternoon under a plan to curb loutish behaviour during the Ashes.
Sunday Times, 7 August 2010
Families set out on Odyssey of hope
Odyssey House is a residential rehab centre, one of few in Australia that can accommodate parents, allowing them to live with their children as they undergo therapy.
Daily Telegraph7 August 2010
Huge rise in risky drinking: study
Alcohol-related ambulance attendances have tripled and the number of drunks presenting to emergency departments has doubled in Victoria over the past decade, new research has found.
Sydney Morning Herald, 4 August 2010
Drink driver 'had no public transport'
A Sydney woman has escaped punishment for a drink driving charge after telling a magistrate she lived in an area with no public transport.
9 News, 4 August 2010
Debate rages around alcohol in cinemas
Amalgamated Holdings, which owns Greater Union, wants to extend its liquor licence to allow moviegoers to drink in all theatres.
Adelaide Advertiser, 4 August 2010
Greens propose to tax junk food and alcohol ads
A 1.5 per cent levy on junk food and alcohol advertising and clearer labelling to guide consumers away from unhealthy foods were proposed in the Greens' health policy announced yesterday.
Brisbane Times, 3 August 2010
Govt misses closing time for alcohol report
Queensland's state government has missed its own deadline to complete a report on alcohol-related violence.
Brisbane Times, 3 August 2010
'Fed up' cops want restrictions
The NSW Police Association is fed up with the amount of alcohol-related violence in the state and has called on the government to introduce harsh new restrictions on licensed premises.
Northern Daily Leader, 3 August 2010
Hangovers could cost $453m each year
Covering for a colleague's hangover has become commonplace in Australian workplaces, costing an estimated $453 million in overtime every year, a new study has found.
Age, 2 August 2010
Body worries for homeless youth
Australia's homeless youth are more worried about their body image and alcohol abuse than their own personal safety, a national survey has found.
Adelaide Advertiser, 1 August 2010