Alcohol dependence in a community sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians : Harms, getting help and awareness of local treatments

Journal article

Weatherall, Teagan J., Conigrave, James H., Conigrave, Katherine M., Perry, Jimmy, Wilson, Scott, Room, Robin, Chikritzhs, Tanya and Kylie Lee, K. S.. (2021). Alcohol dependence in a community sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians : Harms, getting help and awareness of local treatments. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. 16(1), p. Article 65. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-021-00274-2
AuthorsWeatherall, Teagan J., Conigrave, James H., Conigrave, Katherine M., Perry, Jimmy, Wilson, Scott, Room, Robin, Chikritzhs, Tanya and Kylie Lee, K. S.
Abstract

Background
Few studies have examined links between current alcohol dependence and specific harms among Indigenous Australians. We investigated these associations as well as help seeking for drinking, awareness of local treatments and recommendations to help family or friends cut down or stop drinking in two Indigenous communities.

Methods
A representative sample of Indigenous Australians was surveyed in one urban and one remote community in South Australia. Data were collected via the Grog Survey App. Participants were dependent if they reported two or more symptoms of alcohol dependence (ICD-11). Pearson chi-square tests were used to describe relationships between employment by gender, and dependence by awareness of medicines and local treatment options. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to predict the odds of dependent drinkers experiencing harms and getting help for drinking, controlling for age, gender, schooling and income.

Results
A total of 775 Indigenous Australians took part in the study. After controlling for confounders, dependent drinkers were nearly eight times more likely to report a harm and nearly three times more likely to get help for their drinking—compared with non-dependent drinkers. Participants recommended accessing local support from an Aboriginal alcohol and other drugs worker, or a detoxification/ rehabilitation service.

Discussion and conclusions
More support and funding is needed for Indigenous Australians to ensure local treatment options for dependent drinkers are readily available, appropriate and accessible. Involvement of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health professionals in delivery of care can help ensure that it is appropriate to an individual’s culture and context.

KeywordsAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; Indigenous; alcohol dependence; harms; treatment
Year2021
JournalAddiction Science and Clinical Practice
Journal citation16 (1), p. Article 65
PublisherBioMed Central
ISSN1940-0632
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-021-00274-2
PubMed ID34715909
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85118282028
PubMed Central IDPMC8555222
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range1-11
FunderNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE)
Drug and Alcohol Program
Curtin University
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online29 Oct 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted21 Oct 2021
Deposited04 Jul 2023
Grant ID1117198
1117582
1087192
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8z357/alcohol-dependence-in-a-community-sample-of-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-australians-harms-getting-help-and-awareness-of-local-treatments

Log in to edit

Download files

Publisher's version
OA_Weatherall_2021_Alcohol_dependence_in_a_community_sample.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 42
    total views
  • 20
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Alcohol screening in 22 Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations : Clinical context and who is screened
Weatherall, Teagan J., Conigrave, James, Lee, K. S. Kylie, Vnuk, Julia, Ivers, Rowena, Hayman, Noel, Wilson, Scott, Gray, Dennis and Conigrave, Kate. (2024). Alcohol screening in 22 Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations : Clinical context and who is screened. Drug and Alcohol Review. 43(5), pp. 1226-1234. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13851
Low rates of prescribing alcohol relapse prevention medicines in Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
Purcell-Khodr, Gemma C., Conigrave, James, Lee, K. S. Kylie, Vnuk, Julia and Conigrave, Kate. (2023). Low rates of prescribing alcohol relapse prevention medicines in Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Drug and Alcohol Review. 42(7), pp. 1606-1616. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13708
Central markers of neuroinflammation in alcohol use disorder : A meta-analysis of neuroimaging, cerebral spinal fluid, and postmortem studies
Adams, Claire, Perry, Nina, Conigrave, James, Hurzeler, Tristan, Stevens, Julia, Yacou Dunbar, Kristiane P., Sweeney, Alicia, Lee, K. S. Kylie, Sutherland, Greg, Haber, Paul and Morley, Kirsten C.. (2023). Central markers of neuroinflammation in alcohol use disorder : A meta-analysis of neuroimaging, cerebral spinal fluid, and postmortem studies. Alcoholism : Clinical and Experimental Research. 47(2), pp. 197-208. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14992
Trajectories of Psychological Distress of Men Treated at Aboriginal Residential Rehabilitation Services for Alcohol and Drug Misuse
Chambers, Mark S., Shakeshaft, Anthony, Mills, Llewellyn, Clifford-Motopi, Anton, Conigrave, James, James, Doug B. and Tran, Anh Dam. (2023). Trajectories of Psychological Distress of Men Treated at Aboriginal Residential Rehabilitation Services for Alcohol and Drug Misuse. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-023-01217-5
Unintended consequences : Alcohol screening at urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services was suppressed during COVID-19 lockdowns
Conigrave, James, Devine, Emma K., Lee, K. S. Kylie, Dobbins, Timothy, Vnuk, Julia, Hayman, Noel and Conigrave, Kate. (2023). Unintended consequences : Alcohol screening at urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services was suppressed during COVID-19 lockdowns. Drug and Alcohol Review. 42(7), pp. 1633-1638. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13761
An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths’ interactions with electronic screens
Sanders, Taren Grant, Noetel, Michael, Parker, Philip David, del Pozo Cruz, Borja, Biddle, Stuart, Ronto, Rimante, Hulteen, Ryan, Parker, Rhiannon B., Thomas, George, De Cocker, Katrien, Salmon, Jo, Hesketh, Kylie, Weeks, Nicole, Arnott, Hugh, Devine, Emma K., Pires Vasconcellos, Roberta, Pagano, Rebecca Stella, Sherson, Jamie, Conigrave, James and Lonsdale, Christopher Sean. (2023). An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths’ interactions with electronic screens. Nature Human Behaviour. pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01712-8
A meta-analysis of the dark side of the American dream : Evidence for the universal wellness costs of prioritizing extrinsic over intrinsic goals
Bradshaw, Emma L., Conigrave, James H., Steward, Ben A., Ferber, Kelly A., Parker, Philip D. and Ryan, Richard M.. (2023). A meta-analysis of the dark side of the American dream : Evidence for the universal wellness costs of prioritizing extrinsic over intrinsic goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 124(4), pp. 873-899. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000431
‘The Drug Survey App’ : A protocol for developing and validating an interactive population survey tool for drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
Conigrave, James H., Wilson, Scott, Conigrave, Katherine M., Chikritzhs, Tanya, Hayman, Noel, Dawson, Angela, Ali, Robert, Perry, Jimmy, Fitts, Michelle S., Degenhardt, Louisa, Doyle, Michael, Egert, Sonya, Slade, Tim, Ezard, Nadine, Dzidowska, Monika and Lee, K. S. Kylie. (2022). ‘The Drug Survey App’ : A protocol for developing and validating an interactive population survey tool for drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. 17(1), p. Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-022-00298-2
Support for Aboriginal health services in reducing harms from alcohol : 2-year service provision outcomes in a cluster randomized trial
Dzidowska, Monika, Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, James H., Dobbins, Timothy A., Hummerston, Beth, Wilson, Scott, Haber, Paul S., Gray, Dennis and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2022). Support for Aboriginal health services in reducing harms from alcohol : 2-year service provision outcomes in a cluster randomized trial. Addiction. 117(3), pp. 796-803. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15712
Indigenous Australian drinking risk : Comparing risk categorisations based on recall of recent drinking occasions to AUDIT-C screening in a representative sample
Conigrave, James H., Conigrave, Katherine M., Wilson, Scott and Lee, K. S. Kylie. (2022). Indigenous Australian drinking risk : Comparing risk categorisations based on recall of recent drinking occasions to AUDIT-C screening in a representative sample. Drug and Alcohol Review. 41(3), pp. 616-624. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13403
Prevalence and correlates of alcohol dependence in an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative sample : Using the Grog Survey App
Weatherall, Teagan J., Conigrave, James H., Conigrave, Katherine M., Perry, Jimmy, Wilson, Scott, Room, Robin, Fitts, Michelle S., Hayman, Noel and Lee, K. S. Kylie. (2022). Prevalence and correlates of alcohol dependence in an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative sample : Using the Grog Survey App. Drug and Alcohol Review. 41(1), pp. 125-134. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13292
More than three times as many Indigenous Australian clients at risk from drinking could be supported if clinicians used AUDIT-C instead of unstructured assessments
Conigrave, James, Lee, K. S. Kylie, Haber, Paul, Vnuk, Julia, Doyle, Michael and Conigrave, Kate. (2022). More than three times as many Indigenous Australian clients at risk from drinking could be supported if clinicians used AUDIT-C instead of unstructured assessments. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. 17(1), p. Article 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-022-00306-5
Predictors of length of treatment, discharge reason, and re-admission to Aboriginal alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation services in New South Wales, Australia
James, Doug B., Lee, K. S. Kylie, Dronavalli, Mithilesh, Courtney, Ryan J., Conigrave, Katherine M., Conigrave, James H. and Shakeshaft, Anthony. (2022). Predictors of length of treatment, discharge reason, and re-admission to Aboriginal alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation services in New South Wales, Australia. Drug and Alcohol Review. 41(3), pp. 603-615. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13388
Patterns of drinking in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as self-reported on the Grog Survey App : A representative urban and remote sample
Zheng, Catherine, Conigrave, James, Conigrave, Kate, Wilson, Scott, Perry, Jimmy, Chikritzhs, Tanya, Fitts, Michelle S. and Lee, K. S. Kylie. (2022). Patterns of drinking in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as self-reported on the Grog Survey App : A representative urban and remote sample. Drug and Alcohol Review. 41(1), pp. 114-124. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13333
Support can increase use of the AUDIT-C in Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services : A cluster randomized trial
Conigrave, James H., Harrison, Kristie H., Lee, K. S. Kylie, Dobbins, Timothy A., Hummerston, Beth, Hayman, Noel, Perry, Jimmy, Ivers, Rowena, Haber, Paul S., Wilson, Scott, Johnson, David and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2021). Support can increase use of the AUDIT-C in Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services : A cluster randomized trial. Addiction. 116(9), pp. 2304-2315. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15428
A multi-methods yarn about SMART Recovery : First insights from Australian Aboriginal facilitators and group members
Dale, Elizabeth, Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, Katherine M., Conigrave, James H., Ivers, Rowena, Clapham, Kathleen and Kelly, Peter J.. (2021). A multi-methods yarn about SMART Recovery : First insights from Australian Aboriginal facilitators and group members. Drug and Alcohol Review. 40(6), pp. 1013-1027. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13264
Acceptability and feasibility of a computer-based application to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians describe their alcohol consumption
Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, James H., Al Ansari, Mustafa, Wilson, Scott, Perry, Jimmy, Zheng, Catherine, Freeburn, Bradley, Room, Robin, Callinan, Sarah, Hayman, Noel, Chikritzhs, Tanya, Slade, Tim, Gray, Dennis and Conigrave, Kate. (2021). Acceptability and feasibility of a computer-based application to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians describe their alcohol consumption. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse. 20(1), pp. 16-33. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2019.1579144
Recruiting a representative sample of urban South Australian Aboriginal adults for a survey on alcohol consumption
Lee, K. S. Kylie, Fitts, Michelle S., Conigrave, James H., Zheng, Catherine, Perry, Jimmy, Wilson, Scott, Ah Chee, Dudley, Bond, Shane, Weetra, Keith, Chikritzhs, Tanya N., Slade, Tim and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2020). Recruiting a representative sample of urban South Australian Aboriginal adults for a survey on alcohol consumption. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 20(1), p. Article 183. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-01067-y
A systematic review of approaches to improve practice, detection and treatment of unhealthy alcohol use in primary health care : A role for continuous quality improvement
Dzidowska, Monika, Lee, K. S. Kylie, Wylie, Claire, Bailie, Jodie, Percival, Nikki, Conigrave, James H., Hayman, Noel and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2020). A systematic review of approaches to improve practice, detection and treatment of unhealthy alcohol use in primary health care : A role for continuous quality improvement. BMC Primary Care. 21(1), p. Article 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-1101-x
Evidence based models of care for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in primary health care settings : A systematic review
Rombouts, Susan A., Conigrave, James H., Saitz, Richard, Louie, Eva, Haber, Paul and Morley, Kirsten C.. (2020). Evidence based models of care for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in primary health care settings : A systematic review. BMC Primary Care. 21(1), p. Article 260. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-01288-6
What is the prevalence of current alcohol dependence and how is it measured for Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America? A systematic review
Weatherall, Teagan J., Conigrave, Katherine M., Conigrave, James H. and Lee, K. S. Kylie. (2020). What is the prevalence of current alcohol dependence and how is it measured for Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America? A systematic review. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. 15(1), p. Article 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-020-00205-7
What can primary care services do to help First Nations people with unhealthy alcohol use? A systematic review : Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada
Purcell-Khodr, Gemma C., Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, James H., Webster, Emma and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2020). What can primary care services do to help First Nations people with unhealthy alcohol use? A systematic review : Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. 15(1), p. Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-020-00204-8
Drinking risk varies within and between Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander samples : A meta-analysis to identify sources of heterogeneity
Conigrave, James H., Lee, K. S. Kylie, Zheng, Catherine, Wilson, Scott, Perry, Jimmy, Chikritzhs, Tanya, Slade, Tim, Morley, Kirsten, Room, Robin, Callinan, Sarah, Hayman, Noel and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2020). Drinking risk varies within and between Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander samples : A meta-analysis to identify sources of heterogeneity. Addiction. 115(10), pp. 1817-1830. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15015
Alcohol use disorder and circulating cytokines : A systematic review and meta-analysis
Adams, Claire, Conigrave, James H., Lewohl, Joanne, Haber, Paul and Morley, Kirsten C.. (2020). Alcohol use disorder and circulating cytokines : A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 89, pp. 501-512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.08.002
Supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to deliver alcohol care : Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Harrison, Kristie H., Lee, K. S. Kylie, Dobbins, Timothy, Wilson, Scott, Hayman, Noel, Ivers, Rowena, Haber, Paul S., Conigrave, James H., Johnson, David, Hummerston, Beth, Gray, Dennis and Conigrave, Katherine. (2019). Supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to deliver alcohol care : Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 9(11), p. Article e030909. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030909
Evidence-based models of care for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in primary health care settings : Protocol for systematic review
Rombouts, Susan A., Conigrave, James, Louie, Eva, Haber, Paul and Morley, Kirsten C.. (2019). Evidence-based models of care for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in primary health care settings : Protocol for systematic review. Systematic Reviews. 8(1), p. Article 275. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1157-7
Systematic review of addiction recovery mutual support groups and Indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States of America and Hawaii
Dale, Elizabeth, Kelly, Peter J., Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, James H., Ivers, Rowena and Clapham, Kathleen. (2019). Systematic review of addiction recovery mutual support groups and Indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States of America and Hawaii. Addictive Behaviors. 98, p. Article 106038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106038
Patterns of drinking in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as self-reported on the Grog Survey App : A stratified sample
Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, James H., Wilson, Scott, Perry, Jimmy, Hayman, Noel, Zheng, Catherine, Al Ansari, Mustafa, Doyle, Michael, Room, Robin, Callinan, Sarah, Chikritzhs, Tanya, Slade, Tim and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2019). Patterns of drinking in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as self-reported on the Grog Survey App : A stratified sample. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making. 19(1), p. Article 180. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-019-0879-8
Short screening tools for risky drinking in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians : Modified AUDIT-C and a new approach
Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, James H., Wilson, Scott, Perry, Jimmy, Callinan, Sarah, Room, Robin, Chikritzhs, Tanya N., Slade, Tim, Hayman, Noel, Leggat, Geoffrey and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2019). Short screening tools for risky drinking in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians : Modified AUDIT-C and a new approach. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. 14(1), p. Article 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-019-0152-6
Asking about the last four drinking occasions on a tablet computer as a way to record alcohol consumption in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a validation
Lee, K. S. Kylie, Conigrave, James H., Callinan, Sarah, Wilson, Scott, Room, Robin, Perry, Jimmy, Slade, Tim, Chikritzhs, Tanya N., Hayman, Noel, Weatherall, Teagan, Leggat, Geoffrey, Gray, Dennis and Conigrave, Katherine M.. (2019). Asking about the last four drinking occasions on a tablet computer as a way to record alcohol consumption in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a validation. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. 14(1), p. Article 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-019-0148-2