<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/08/1060145868872.html>

Drugs focus hides deadly alcohol crisis

By Geesche Jacobsen | August 9, 2003

More than 400 alcohol-related deaths in NSW have been investigated by
the State Coroner in the past two years, with experts warning the
problem is ignored because so much attention is focused on illicit
drugs.

The State Coroner's figures include only suspicious deaths
investigated by the Coroner in which alcohol played a role. They do
not include road accidents, non-suspicious deaths, or cases where a
link with alcohol was not identified.

Overall, 430 alcohol-related deaths were notified to the Coroner in
the two years to June. These included deaths due to alcohol poisoning,
choking and drowning, chronic alcoholism and suicides. One in seven
who died were under 30. About 80 per cent were males.

Experts say alcohol is responsible for three to six times as many
deaths as illegal drugs and that its dangers need to be taken more
seriously.

Paul Dillon, a spokesman for the National Drug and Alcohol Research
Centre, said the media focused too much on deaths from illicit drugs,
such as ecstasy or heroin, which were far less frequent than
alcohol-related deaths.

"We have deaths at pubs and bars and licensed premises every weekend
and very few of those would get reported," he said.

The public thought road accidents were the main cause of
alcohol-related deaths.

"It's not palatable to Mr Joe Public because it [drinking alcohol] is
something he does."

Larry Pierce, executive director of the Network of Alcohol and Other
Drugs Agencies, said the real costs and damage caused by alcohol were
far greater than the problems caused by illicit drugs. Apart from
alcohol-related deaths, there were adverse health effects, including
liver and stomach problems. Alcohol also played a role in accidents,
injuries, violence and absenteeism.

Emma Saleeba, of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council, said the chance
to address alcohol problems had been missed because of the focus on
illicit drugs. "We believe alcohol-related harm is underestimated.
There doesn't seem to be the same concern placed on alcohol," she
said.

The State Coroner's figures also include 69 cases in which the Coroner
could identify that the person had intended to harm themselves. In
many of these cases, people who had hanged or shot themselves had been
under the influence of alcohol.

Dr Stephen Jurd, the head of Royal North Shore Hospital's drug and
alcohol services, said alcohol was a drug that caused depression and
impaired judgement.

It was also often the cause of financial difficulties and problems at
work or in relationships, which made people more likely to contemplate
suicide.