Drugs and alcohol use by Indigenous people
16 June 2010
Download a copy of the Drugs and alcohol use by Indigenous people Q&A
Media often stereotype drug and alcohol use to be far greater by Indigenous people, but is substance misuse actually a bigger problem for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than other Australians? Here are some straightforward answers to questions you might have about drug and alcohol use.
1. A lot of media reports portray Indigenous people as having lots of substance use problems. Is this true?
2. Why do Indigenous people have substance misuse problems?
3. It seems this is a bigger issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders than other Australians. Is that the case?
4. Is problematic substance use part of Indigenous culture?
5. Have there been any successful programs to reduce problematic substance use?
6. Why have these programs been successful?
7. How are alcohol restrictions which have been initiated by the community that different from government imposed restrictions?
8. If alcohol is legal why does everyone have to be punished? Isn’t it up to the individual to exercise control?
9. What does stopping problematic substance use in Indigenous communities have to do with reconciliation?
1. A lot of media reports portray Indigenous people as having lots of substance use problems. Is this true?
Drinking alcohol is well entrenched in Australian society, and many Australians engage in drug and other substance use too. Media reports often stereotype Indigenous Australians as having drug and alcohol dependencies however a greater percentage of non-Indigenous Australians drink alcohol than Indigenous Australians. While some Indigenous communities suffer from widespread substance use including cannabis use, excessive drinking, cigarette smoking and petrol sniffing, these problems are not exclusive to Indigenous Australians. Each community is different and unique with some communities experiencing higher rates of substance use than others, many Indigenous Australians drink alcohol responsibly and don’t use drugs.
2. Why do Indigenous people have substance misuse problems?
Some people think that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are more susceptible to substance misuse because they are genetically less tolerant to alcohol. This is a myth and has no scientific basis. The real reason why problematic substance use continues within the Indigenous population is a complex mix of historical and current, social and political factors. Historically, alcohol rations were distributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in return for labour. Throughout the history of Australian colonisation Indigenous people endured traumatic events such as violence, land dispossession, being forcibly separated from their families and severe discrimination. More recently, systemic poor living standards, unemployment and lack of appropriate medical and education facilities further entrenches problematic substance use in some Indigenous communities.
3. It seems this is a bigger issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders than other Australians. Is that the case?
Risky drug and alcohol use is a problem throughout Australian society; however stamping it out within Australia’s Indigenous populations is somewhat more problematic than for other Australians. Part of the difficulty relates to poor access to health and education facilities and other essential services. While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to mainstream health and education services, these services are not always culturally appropriate or delivered in the correct language.
4. Is problematic substance use part of Indigenous culture?
Problematic substance use is not part of Indigenous culture. Before colonisation some Indigenous communities fermented light alcohol from natural plants and others traded it with Macassan traders. However, it was not until European colonisation that a heavy drinking culture was introduced into Australia and substances such as wine and rum became readily available. In early colonial society heavy alcohol use was very common. In fact, the first European settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per head of population than any othercommunity in the history of mankind. Rum was used as a type of currency—with convicts often receiving rum rather than money. By 1850, 13 breweries and 500 hotels had been built in the Sydney area.
5. Have there been any successful programs to reduce problematic substance use?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders around Australia have implemented programs in communities that have successfully reduced the prevalence of drug and alcohol use. One example of a successful program is the Mt Theo initiative established by community elders in the Northern Territory town of Yuendumu. Through the program, local elders have successfully decreased substance use amongst local youth by introducing them to interesting and challenging activities outside of school hours and caring for them in a type of cultural rehabilitation. In the program’s first three months alone, the number of youth sniffing petrol decreased from seventy to just six.
Alcohol bans implemented by community leaders in Fitzroy Crossing is another example of a program which has successfully reduced alcohol use. After just months of the self imposed, community led ban on alcohol, a 43 percent decrease was recorded in alcohol related domestic violence and the number of people who presented to the local emergency health service with alcohol related injuries halved.
6. Why have these programs been successful?
The success of both the Fitzroy Crossing and Mt Theo programs can be attributed to the commitment of local community members. When substance use initiatives are developed by community members they are more likely to fit the needs of their particular communities. However, community led programs (such as those in Fitzroy Crossing and Mt Theo) are also more likely to be successful when supported by the government and other key partners. It is important that the government and other groups work in consultation with community leaders so that the best possible solution can be developed to address the needs of the community and everyone is working towards the same goal.
7. How are alcohol restrictions which have been initiated by the community that different from government imposed restrictions?
Each community is different and unique so government imposed bans may not necessarily be the best way to reduce substance use in all communities. Solutions which work best in alleviating problematic substance use generally come from within the community itself through local leaders and community members and are supported in partnership with the government. These solutions are more effective than purely government imposed restrictions because they are tailored by the community for the community and are devised to fit the needs of each individual community. Other integrated support services also contribute to the success of these tailor made community led solutions.
Many Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) provide ongoing care and support for substance users. For example the Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service in South Australia delivers culturally appropriate services such as a sobering up unit, referral to other services, needle exchange and mobile patrol assistance, and home and community care program to local community members. Another reason why community initiated solutions are usually more effective than government bans is that communities may feel more ownership over the solution and have more desire to make it work.
8. If alcohol is legal why does everyone have to be punished? Isn’t it up to the individual to exercise control?
While some individuals are responsible and moderate drinkers, they too are part of the bigger picture solution to reducing excessive drinking. A person who is dependent on alcohol may never shake the problem if they are constantly surrounded by others who are drinking. Some Indigenous leaders suggest that if moderate and responsible drinkers support restrictions within their communities they can provide moral leadership and support in reducing excessive drinking.
9. What does stopping problematic substance use in communities have to do with reconciliation?
People who engage in risky substance use isolate themselves from their friends, families and communities. Reconciliation is about everyone standing on comparable terms and having a fair go—it’s also about working together to make our communities safe and happy environments where everyone has the chance to achieve their dreams. It is about proving that, given the right capacity, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are capable and valued members of a modern Australia.
Acknowledgment
Reconciliation Australia is grateful for assistance received from the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee in the preparation of this Q&A.
