One in five Australians becomes an alcoholic, according to a new study of 9,000 adults from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center at the University of New South Wales.

"Something is happening ... it's become more acceptable to drink at risky levels. It will take a major national response to turn this around," Maree Teesson, director of the center, said.

This is the first study to establish the actual levels of problem drinking in Australia, which places it among the top three countries for alcoholism. Treatment options for alcohol abuse are limited in Australia.

This study appears in the journal Addiction.
 

Labels: alcoholism, australia

Posted By: Adolescent Substance Abuse