Sad news

Australian youths are drinking themselves to death at an alarming rate and Australia's drinking problem has become a national crisis. That's according to Bill Stronach, chief executive of the Australian Drug Foundation.

Figures released by the Victorian government revealed that half of all 16- to 24-year olds binge drink at least once a month. The report found 194 young deaths were attributed to alcohol in the last four years. A further 2,135 young people were seriously injured in road accidents and 11,455 drank themselves into hospital, and that is in Victoria alone. Alcohol also fuelled more than 8,800 assaults and almost 5,000 family incidents.

The figures are contained in the Victorian Alcohol Statistics Handbook. Author Dr Anne-Marie Laslett said it was staggering that more than 300,000 young Victorians drank to excess each month. Health Minister Bronwyn Pike launched the handbook, saying it was a serious wake-up call. "Alcohol is second only to tobacco as a drug that causes high levels of disease and death," Ms Pike said. "It's terrifying to see that more than 300,000 people risk serious injury or possible death at least once a month through drinking irresponsibly."

Mr Stronach said Australia's drinking problem was getting worse and the victims younger, labelling it a national crisis. "Australia's infatuation with intoxication costs 4,000 Australian lives each year and another 70,000 people are hospitalised," he said. "We get terribly upset when illegal drug users commit violence or die but we ignore the daily mayhem that results from determined and deliberate dangerous drinking."

Source: Compiled by APN from media reports

Great quote!!!

"And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. " - 1 Cor. 7:17a (MSG)