PATTERNS OF ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION IN THE KIMBERLEY ABORIGINAL POPULATION

Objective: To estimate patterns of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems among adult Aborigines in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Design: A community survey of adult Aborigines. Participants: A stratified random sample of 516 Aboriginal men and women over the age of 15 years in the Kimberley. Main outcome measures: Participants' reports of their frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption, and their lifetime experience of alcohol-related problems; and the laboratory measure gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. Results: Aborigines in the Kimberley were more likely to be non-drinkers than non-Aborigines in the Australian population, but the majority of drinkers consumed hazardous amounts of alcohol: 85% (95% Cl, 82% to 88%) of drinkers in the population were estimated to be drinking above the level defined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) as harmful. Conclusion: Alcohol abuse among Aborigines in the Kimberley is a major public health problem which requires urgent action.