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| Binge
drinking is fast becoming a problem within Northern
Ireland culture. Binge drinking is defined as 10 or
more units of alcohol on a single occasion for men and
7 or more units for women. |
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resource pack has been launched to help tackle the rising
incidence of binge drinking among young people in the
Craigavon and Banbridge areas. |
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The
Craigavon and Banbridge Community Health and Social
Services Trust has worked in partnership with the
SELB Youth Service and the young people from Drumgor
Detached Youth Work Project to develop the pack, ‘Consequences
R Real. ’ This pack, funded by the Southern
Drugs Co-Ordination Team, is aimed at supporting those
who work with young people to highlight the potential
risks and consequences of binge drinking, and to encourage
young people to discuss their use, and indeed misuse,
of alcohol.
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Health
Promotion Manager Lynne Smart said, “The resource
pack will help engage young people in discussion about
their use, and indeed misuse, of alcohol and its associated
risks and consequences.”
72% of 18 – 29 year old men and 57% of 18 –
29 year old females in Northern Ireland binge drink
at least once a week (Health Promotion Agency Northern
Ireland), the aim being to get drunk as quickly as
possible.
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| Binge
drinking is often seen as an amusing rite of passage for young
people and considered the norm for enjoyment and partying.
With the assumption of adult roles and responsibilities many
young people alter and moderate their drinking behaviour.
For others binge drinking maybe a precursor for harmful drinking
behaviour into adult life.
While the long-term health consequences of binge drinking
often seem remote to young people, it can nonetheless have
serious repercussions, ranging from alcohol poisoning and
high blood pressure to strokes, coma and brain damage, liver
damage and cancer. The social consequences of binge drinking
are also concerning. There are clear and worrying connections
between binge drinking and depression, suicide, unwanted pregnancies,
anti social behaviour, accidents, violence and crime.
Youth Advisor for the Southern Education & Library Board,
Gerard Doran welcomed the launch of the resource pack. He
commented, “The development of the resource pack has
been a real team effort. I strongly endorse the partnership
approach that has been taken on this project between the Trust,
SELB Youth Service and Drumgor Detached Youth Work Project.
Indeed the high degree of involvement of the young people
in the production and completion of the pack must be commended
and I envisage this pack being an extremely useful resource
for those working with young people in the local community.”
For further information on the resource pack, please contact:
Lynne Smart, Health Promotion Manager Tel: 028 3834
4942
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