Take Action 2022: Keeping Safe

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in Australia. Drugs, both legal and illegal, are a cause of considerable concern across Australian society. NSW Police force response to alcohol and drugs.

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Experimentation with alcohol and other drugs is a part of the lives of many young people, though use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is less common among young people in 2019 than their same-age peers in 2001. Drug use among young people remains concerning as these age groups (particularly adolescents) are susceptible to permanent damage from alcohol and other drug use as their brains are still developing, which makes them a vulnerable population. Refer to Box YOUNGER1 on how young people are defined in this report.

Australia has a co-regulatory system for alcohol advertising. Guidelines have been negotiated with government, consumer complaints are handled independently, but all costs are borne by industry.

In Australia, a standard drink refers to 10 grams of alcohol. On average, this is how much the human body can process in one hour.

This calculator provides a guide to the average amount of standard drinks in different beverages. For further information check out our standard drinks page.

A study by Australian and international researchers has found booze ads during sports have real-world consequences.

Do you know what a standard drink looks like?
Learn how many standard drinks are in common glasses.

People who feel threatened or unsafe during a date or social situation can now ask Sydney bartenders for 'Angela', in a new initiative to combat violence and sexual assault.
The NSW Government today launched the internationally recognised 'Ask for Angela' safety campaign to prevent violence and anti-social behaviour in Sydney's CBD.

The media is important in the lives of young people, who have access to a variety of media devices and content. They encounter a range of alcohol depictions that may influence their attitudes to alcohol and their own drinking.

What drugs are and their affects and effects. Also has interactive activities

Addiction happens when someone compulsively engages in behaviour such as drug taking, gambling, drinking or gaming. Even when bad side effects kick in and people feel like they’re losing control, people who have addictions usually can't stop doing the thing they’re addicted to without help and support.

As a parent, you may be unsure how to protect your child from the misuse of alcohol and drugs Parenting a teen involves being well informed about the facts and supporting them to manage the risks. It's hard to know when and how to communicate about this issue and to make decisions about rules and consequences.

Right now is a pretty important time for your brain. In fact, it’s shaping itself at this very minute. So it needs you to provide it with a positive and alcohol-free environment to thrive.

Drugs and alcohol change the way your brain and body work. They change the balance of chemicals that help your brain to think, feel, create and make decisions. If you’re going through a tough time, it can be tempting to use drugs and alcohol as a coping strategy. However, these are addictive substances that can cause symptoms of depression and/or anxiety or make an existing problem worse, while making recovery much harder. Some people with depression and/or anxiety can also develop problems with drugs and alcohol, which may also need treatment.