1. Alcohol is a Drug Too Incorporating Reduce Binge Drinking Program into VSL Curriculum Our Youth – is Our Future Reducing Binge Drinking Among the Youth

2. Alcohol is the second biggest cause of death from a drug in Australia?

3. Australian Drug Foundation Annual Report (2008) approximately 2,000 assaults involving young people affected by alcohol 2,472 infringements to minors for possession of alcohol 10,000-15,000 young people apprehended for public drunkenness Source: ADF Prevention Research Quarterly, June 2009

4. Young People Involved in Binge Drinking 14-17 y.o 32 % Source : ADF Report, 2008 18-24 y. o. 64 %

5. What is Binge Drinking? drinking heavily over a short period of time drinking continuously over a number of days or weeks also commonly known as 'getting smashed', or 'drinking to get drunk'.

6. Is binge drinking harmful? Binge drinking can be immediately and directly harmful to your health. It can expose you to injury or to unnecessary risks to yourself and others. Over 4,700 ambulance attendances in metropolitan Melbourne (ADF Report, 2008) As well as having adverse short-term effects, binge drinking can also cause long-term effects on health and well-being 24,714 inpatient hospitalisations (ADF Report, 2008)

7. People can become alcohol-dependent because it is addictive

8. SIGNIFICANT PHISIOLOGICAL IMPACT on Brain

9. RBDP Survey results 95 % of the young people between 15-18 y.o. do not see alcohol as a drug 45% of them already tested and use alcohol on “special occasions” 12% drink alcohol when “bored” 98% agree that alcohol should be a part of the special occasions (family gatherings, birthdays, sporting events, ext.)

10. Alcohol is the most widely used recreational drug in Australia We have a youth culture of socially accepting the drinking of alcohol Social Implication

11. Paul Dillop, Director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia “Lost generation” ?

12. VSL TEACHER ROLE Drug education Language learning Life learning

13. Contents of the Folder INCORPORATING RBDP INTO VSL CURRICULUM What is alcohol? How does alcohol affect people? What happens to alcohol in the body? Why people drink alcohol? What to do when you or people close to you have alcohol-related problem? Keeping yourself safe at parties How much you can drink?