Growing up in regional areas could equal risky drinking habits for young men

MALE youth in regional areas are at greater risk of developing risky drinking habits than city-based peers, a new long-term study has found. The study, Ten to Men, is the largest longitudinal study on male health in the world, and tracked more than 16,000 men in Australia over the last 10 years, surveying males aged 10-57 four times during the study. The research shows almost half of young adult men (aged 18-29) are consistently drinking at risky levels, with 48 per cent consuming more than four standard drinks on a typical occasion, well above the national alcohol guidelines. The study also found that living in a regional area was a strong predictor of risky drinking down the track. Boys living in a regional or rural area at ages 10-17 in 2013-14 were almost twice as likely as their city-based peers to be drinking at risky levels over the subsequent 10-year period. Chief executive officer of Gateway Health, Trent Dean, said this study is an important reminder about the mental health challenges in regional Australia and the integral role community health plays in addressing them. “At Gateway Health in Wangaratta we offer counselling for those looking to recover from drug or alcohol dependence, or problem gambling," he said. "These risky behaviours can also have a broader impact on someone’s friends and family and we have supports available for them too. "If you or someone you know needs help, we encourage them to visit the Gateway Health website for more information.” Funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, the study focuses on asking men about significant issues such as gambling, drinking, drug use, family violence, social connection and mental health. Lead of the Ten to Men program, Dr Sean Martin, said surveying the same men over time helps pinpoint some of the predictors of high-risk drinking later in life. “Boys living in rural and regional areas, boys or men who smoke or take illicit drugs, and older men with disability need to be a particular focus for policies and programs aimed at reducing alcohol harms,” he said. “Drinking at risky levels doesn’t only occur on the cusp of adulthood, and during a man’s early 20s, it can also carry on when adult responsibilities ramp up, including work and family commitments and into middle age. “For many men, unless they make a conscious decision to reduce their consumption, unhealthy drinking can affect work performance and relationships, as well physical and mental health." According to the current national alcohol guidelines, adults should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. For more information about Gateway Health's support services visit https://gatewayhealth.org.au/services/alcohol-drug-support/.

Growing up in regional areas could equal risky drinking habits for young men

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