www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Most alcoholics start drinking during their teen years, but the disease can also strike those who begin using alcohol at a younger age — and the problem often goes unrecognized, experts say.
The underage-drinking rate in the U.S. has remained steady in recent years, but some research indicates that youths are starting to drink at a younger age. One study, from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, concluded that about 10 percent of nine-year-olds had consumed more than a sip of alcohol. And research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicates that children who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to have drinking problems than those who start drinking at age 21 or later. (Source: Join Together, 7/26/09)

Including addiction treatment in national healthcare reform will save the nation billions of dollars in emergency care and other health costs, according to a new white paper from the Open Society Institute’s Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap initiative. The „Unforeseen Benefits: Addiction Treatment Reduces Health Care Costs“ white paper said that in addition to fewer costly visits to emergency rooms, making addiction treatment more available and affordable will reduce hospital stays and other healthcare costs. (Source: Join Together, 7/20/09)

Heavy, Daily Drinking Increases Risk Of High-Grade Prostate Cancer; Makes Preventive Drug Ineffective. Current research is inconclusive regarding the relationship between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer risk. Researchers led by Zhihong Gong Ph.D. of the University of California San Francisco, examined the associations of total alcohol, type of alcoholic beverage, and drinking pattern with risks of total, low- and high-grade prostate cancer. (Source: Medical News Today, 7/13/09)

Alcohol use among university students in Sweden measured by an electronic screening instrument. Conclusion: Obtaining clear and current information on drinking patterns demonstrated by university students can help public health officials, university administration, and local health care providers develop appropriate prevention and treatment strategies. (Source: biomedcentral.com, 7/13/09) The complete article is available as a provisional PDF

Family Drug Support’s Stepping Stones to Success program has won the 2009 National Drug and Alcohol Award for Excellence in Prevention and Community Education. The team was recognised during an awards ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, tonight when it was acknowledged for its contribution in raising community awareness around alcohol and drug problems. (Source: Medical News Today, 7/8/09)

Der problematische Alkoholkonsum unter Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen nimmt stetig weiter zu. Dieser Entwicklung muss mit wirksamen Massnahmen begegnet werden, fordert die Fachorganisation IOGT Schweiz an ihrer 117. Jahrestagung in Oberägeri (ZG). Medienmitteilung, 21.6.09

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Almost three-quarters of Americans support including alcohol and other drug treatment in national healthcare reform to make it more affordable, and two-thirds of survey participants support increasing the amount of federal and state funding for preventing and treating addiction. (Source: Join Together, 6/17/09)

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Army Brass Calls for Crackdown on Alcohol and Other Drug Problems. The U.S. Army is directing commanders to take steps to root out alcohol and other drug problems and get soldiers with addiction problems either into treatment or out of the service, the Army Times reported June 8. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli is leading the campaign to crack down on alcohol and other drug related offenses, pressing local commanders to step up reporting of offenses and take sterner action on soldiers who test positive for drugs. Soldiers who get treatment but then relapse are more likely to be booted from the service, Army leaders said. (Source: Join Together, 6/15/09)

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# Eurocare’s Annual General Assembly. 10 June, Stockholm
# Alcohol Policy Network meeting. 10 – 12 June, Stockholm
# Symposium on Science, Communication and Policy. 15-16 June, Strathclyde, Glasgow
# Alcohol and Pregnancy Conference. 9 September, Brussels
# Expert meeting on Alcohol and Health. 21 – 22 September 2009, Stockholm
# Models, implications and meanings of alcohol and drug treatment systems. 7 – 9 October 2009, Stockholm.
# 6th Annual Conference of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol Problems (INEBRIA). 8 – 9 October 2009, UK
# Youth, Alcohol & Crime (Problems & Effective Responses). International Conference. 13 November 2009, Bristol. (Source and links: Eurocare Newsletter April/May 09)

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A unique study from Norway discerned lasting benefits from a brief alcohol intervention nine years after risky drinkers had been identified during mass screening for heart disease and other medical risk factors.
The report (Source: Eurocare Newsletter April/May 09)

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