Cardinia booze deaths reach 23 a year

MORE then 20 Cardinia residents die each year from alcoholrelated illnesses and injuries.
Alcohol caused 186 instances of family violence, 123 assaults and 42 serious road injuries in Cardinia Shire, according to new government statistics.
About 23 Cardinia residents died from alcoholrelated causes each year between 2000 and 2002.
Major Mike Coleman, coordinator of The Salvation Army’s drug and alcohol services, said: “Australia’s numbertwo drug problem is alcohol and that comes close to tobacco in the harm it does.”
Major Coleman says damage usually happens to young people around intoxication, and longterm alcohol users who become dependant.
Cardinia Shire has the secondhighest annual rate per 10,000 people of alcoholrelated assault after Frankston in the southern metropolitan health region, which includes Dandenong, Casey and the Mornington Peninsula.
Cardinia’s rates of alcoholrelated medical admissions per 10,000 were significantly lower then the state average.
State Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said: “Alcohol is a social, legal drug but with that comes the responsibility and the necessity to use it sensibly. I would urge all Victorians to ensure their enjoyment of alcohol is not at the expense of individual or community harm.”
Major Coleman said anyone struggling with an alcohol problem should contact a drug and alcohol service.
Statistics show 2870 Victorians die for alcoholrelated reasons each year.