Australian alcohol abuse greater problem than meth addiction

Australia’s top medical body has criticised the drug policy adopted by the Federal Government, claiming the emphasis on combating methamphetamine abuse is unwise, and that alcohol abuse is a greater problem.

The Government’s recently released 10-year National Drug Strategy, names curtailing of meth abuse as its priority.

Dr Michael Gannon, president of the Australian Medical Association, said that although meth abuse was rampant, alcohol abuse was more pervasive.

“We see so much carnage from ice [meth] use and yet it pales into insignificance with the problems caused by legal drugs like alcohol by a much larger group of Australians every day,” Dr Gannon said.

The annual cost of alcohol abuse to Australian taxpayers is an estimated $36bn (£21.6bn). It causes about 5,000 deaths and more than 150,000 hospital admissions annually.

Dr Gannon said that alcohol abuse should get as much attention as meth abuse, adding that alcohol abuse is more widespread because more people drink than use meth, leading to more becoming problem drinkers. He said alcohol use is a cultural problem in Australia, with tens of thousands drinking to excess daily.

Dr Gannon also said that the Government should not take an either-or approach in setting priorities in its 10-year plan.

“It’s not as if we need to have an Olympic medal race to decide what’s the biggest problem out of alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine and other drugs,” he said. “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”