www.alkoholpolitik.ch

As part of its commitment in the framework of the European Alcohol and Health Forum, FEANTSA has gathered relevant information relating to homelessness and alcohol addiction. The present document and the online resource page aim at raising awareness on the scope and nature of the problem and at providing policy makers, homeless services personnel and other stakeholders with useful resources. This briefing paper gives an overview of the main issues, which should be taken into account when addressing alcohol addiction and homelessness. It is based on the input of FEANTSA’s working group on health and social protection. FEANTSA’s Recommendations… (Source: Eurocare Newsletter April/May 09)

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According to a report CASA issued this morning, (see our entry yesterday) federal, state and local governments spend almost half a trillion dollars every year — almost 11 percent of their total budgets — as a result of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse and addiction. The worst part is that, for federal and state spending, about 95% of that money is spent „Shoveling Up“ the mess created by a failure to provide enough money for prevention and treatment.
Out of every dollar federal and state governments spent on substance misuse in 2005 (the latest data available), 95 cents paid for the enormous burden of this problem on health care, criminal justice, child welfare, education, and other programs. And only 2 cents were invested in prevention and treatment programs that could reduce many of these costs — and save lives.
This huge waste of money is hidden in many different budgets, so most of our elected officials don’t have a clue about how much alcohol, tobacco and other drugs really cost taxpayers, and how little governments spend to effectively address the problem. Maybe if they knew, they might do something. You can tell them. (Source: Join Together, Take Action! 5/29/09)

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NEW CASA* REPORT FINDS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SPEND ALMOST HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION.
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 28, 2009 – Substance abuse and addiction cost federal, state and local governments at least $467.7 billion in 2005, according to Shoveling Up II: The Impact of Substance Abuse on Federal, State and Local Budgets, a new 287-page report released today by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.
The CASA report found that of $373.9 billion in federal and state spending, 95.6 percent ($357.4 billion) went to shovel up the consequences and human wreckage of substance abuse and addiction; only 1.9 percent went to prevention and treatment, 0.4 percent to research, 1.4 percent to taxation and regulation, and 0.7 percent to interdiction. (Source: CASA Report press release, 5/28/09)

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Responding to the figures contained in Statistics on Alcohol: England 2009, Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians said: „The figures released today reflect the contradictions that characterise Britain’s relationship to drink. It is a welcome development that more people, on average, are drinking within the recommended limits. But this contrasts with fact that nearly half of all adults drink above the safe daily limits at least once a week, often above twice these levels. This paradox underlines the difficulties in understanding and seeking to change the drinking culture in the UK, because we are dealing with a heterogeneous population drinking in different patterns and for different reasons. Policies may need to reflect that diversity. (Source: Medical News Today, 5/25/09)

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Addiction is not a disease but rather a behavior that can be controlled, according to a Harvard psychologist who points to the fact that some addicts can voluntarily quit using to support his hypothesis. The Toronto Star reported May 16 that Gene M. Heyman, author of the new book, Addiction: A Disorder of Choice, writes that the public has been deceived by addiction experts. He agrees that individuals can be genetically predisposed to addiction, and that changes occur in the brains of addicts, but contends that the decision to use or quit remains voluntary. (Source: Join Together, 5/21/09)

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-New Jersey (NCADD-NJ) launched a new advocacy and media campaign, which includes a proposal for a five-cent excise tax increase on beer to raise $7.5 million for addiction treatment. (Source: Join Together, 5/19/05)

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Online-Kommentar zu „TV-Sender sollen für Alkohol werben dürfen“ in der NZZ online am 19.5.09
Es wäre wirklich an der Zeit, dass die Nationalräte ihrem Amtsgelübde nachleben würden und das Volkswohl über die finanziellen Interessen der Alkohollobby stellen würden. Der sonst als eher konservativ geltende Ständerat hat die Kurve gekriegt, hoffentlich folgt der Nationalrat nicht seiner Kommission.
Eben ist in Deutschland eine weitere Studie erschienen, die nachweist, dass Alkoholwerbung den Konsum bei Jugendlichen stark fördert. Trotzdem leugnete die Alkohol- und Werbeindustrie schon immer diese Wirkung. Viele Politiker hören leider lieber die Stimmen, die ihren Wünschen entsprechen. Man könnte sagen, das sei menschlich, doch stehen sie als gewählte Volksvertreter in einer besonderen Verantwortung. Insbesondere jene, die ein „C“ im Parteinamen tragen und behaupten, Familienpolitik zu betreiben.

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Alcohol-Related Brain Damage: Recovery Adversely Affected By Smoking
Alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) can damage the brain, particularly the frontal and parietal cortices, although this damage is at least partially reversible with sustained abstinence from alcohol. Chronic smoking is extremely common among individuals with AUDs. A new study has used longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain blood flow to show that smoking makes it harder for brain blood flow to recover from long-term heavy drinking. (Source: Medical News Today, 5/12/09)

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Wisconsin’s beer tax hasn’t increased in 40 years, but a new legislative proposal would raise the tax from 0.6 cents per bottle to 3 cents. Only Missouri and Wyoming have lower beer taxes than Wisconsin. The bill would use the estimated $58 million in new tax revenues to reduce alcohol-related crime, pay for addiction treatment, and fund prevention programs. (Source: Join Together, 5/4/09)

It’s time for major beer companies to pay their fair share. Coming on the heels of positive poll numbers and an endorsement by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, a proposal to raise the Oregon beer tax for the first time in 32 years is attracting more support. Oregon’s beer tax — less than a penny a glass — is effectively the lowest in the country. The House Bill 2461 would raise the tax by 15 cents with revenues going directly toward the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. (Source: Join Together, 4/22/09)