New Grog Book to assist Indigenous communities

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PDF printable version of this page (PDF 23 KB)

27 July 2005
ABB091/05

The Commonwealth Government has funded a new book aimed at helping Indigenous communities and health workers better manage alcohol-related problems.

About one in five Indigenous people drink at levels that put them at risk of long term health problems. Alcohol abuse can cause complications in chronic disease and contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory disease and high rates of injury. Alcohol misuse is a contributing factor to higher death rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Grog Book: Strengthening Indigenous Community Action on Alcohol Revised Edition, written by Dr Maggie Brady, is a resource book with practical advice on how to manage alcohol problems at the community level and how to increase community awareness of alcohol abuse.

Dr Brady, an academic and expert on Indigenous alcohol issues, wrote the book to encourage community-based action on alcohol problems. The book was first published in 1998 and this revised edition includes new information on successful programs undertaken by Indigenous communities.

15,000 copies of the book have been printed and will be distributed by the government to Indigenous health centres, health workers, Indigenous community organisations, drug and alcohol services, state and territory governments and will be available on request from the federal health department.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (2001) found that while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are less likely than other Australians to drink alcohol, those who drink alcohol are more likely to consume it at hazardous levels.

The government is committed to reducing the damage caused by alcohol abuse and other drugs in Indigenous communities, as well as the broader Australian community. In 2004-05 the government invested $21 million in the Indigenous Substance Misuse Program, which supported 67 Indigenous services nationally. Though the National Drug Strategy, the government has committed $18.5 million to 2008-09 specifically to help Indigenous communities address drug and alcohol problems.

For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220.