The devastating impact of alcohol on indigenous populations is well known, but debate often overlooks the broad context of the problem and the priorities of indigenous people themselves. This book was written with the desire to improve the level of informed debate, and lead to constructive action. It aims to provide readers with a coherent explanation of alcohol misuse among indigenous peoples in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The extensive health, economic, social and cultural consequences of misuse are described in the words of the indigenous people themselves. The book found that patterns of indigenous alcohol consumption could not be understood in isolation from the impact of European colonialism and its continuing consequences. Its authors argue that our understanding of alcohol misuse needs to be reconceptualised and structural inequalities addressed.

A passionate call to action from a veteran prosecutor, Firewater examines alcohol--its history, its myths, and its devastating impact on Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike.

Examines the extent of Aboriginal drinking; major effects of alcohol on Aboriginal communities; causes of excessive use of alcohol; attempts to deal with alcohol problems by communities, government and non-government organisations; adequacy of Australian laws relating to alcohol and operation of the laws; recommendations for reducing alcohol problems.

Based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork this is a vital addition to the literature on alcohol use and problem drinking, social change and postcolonialism.From Hunting to Drinking reveals the social change witnessed over a period of 30 years by an anthropologist on Mornington Island, off the North Queensland Coast, Australia, most notably the devastating effects that alcohol has had on this community.

The aim of this book is to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia with ideas and strategies for managing alcohol. It draws on selected cases, dealing with what indigenous people themselves have done, and us written for those who are able to encourage and stimulate community based intervention.

What difference does culture make? Coping with Alcohol and Drug Problems: The Experiences of Family Members in Three Contrasting Cultures aims to deepen and extend understanding of the experiences of family members trying to cope with the excessive drinking or drug taking of a relative. Comprehensive and thoroughly up to date, this book draws on the results of the cross-cultural study of alcohol and drug problems in the family, and places these results within the broader context of the international literature on the subject. By investigating the similarities and differences in the experiences of family members in three parts of the world, the authors reveal results which have far-reaching implications for professional intervention and prevention. Subjects covered include: models of understanding: how families continue to be pathologised and misunderstood. how family members cope. an integrated view of alcohol and drug problems in the family. ways of empowering family members. This book aims to demonstrate the possibility of a constructive alliance between professionals, substance misusing relatives, and the affected family members by thoroughly investigating the dilemmas that face family members and the lack of support they experience. This fascinating insight into the impact of alcohol and drug problems on family members will be a valuable resource for all those who are interested in substance misuse in family and cultural contexts, and particularly those who are interested in the treatment of alcohol and other drug problems.