Topic: Alcohol Related Injury and Trauma
Author: Forum Administrator | Posted: 31 Jul 2003 |
What can we do to reduce the incidence of alcohol related injury and trauma?
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Topic: Re: Alcohol Related Injury and Trauma
Author: Christa Bidgood | Posted: 25 Aug 2003 |
Off course the natural answer would be to avoid the injury which avoids the trauma. However this is not a perfect world. How did I treat the trauma of my alcohol related motor bike accident in which I sustained a life long leg injury? How did I treat the physical violent abuse
of my alcoholic husband? How did I treat the trauma of my three rapes? how did I treat the trauma of witnessing the deaths of three adult human beings and a child in an alcohol related car acident?
How did I treat the suicide of my friend who hung himself?
Initially I drank and used drugs and sought medication. I was councelled however nothing changed the fear and insecurity these events brough to my life.
Until one day they manifested into shear horror, I just wanted to die. I felt old and haggard, angry and resentful and very very bitter. Alcohol and drugs sure weren't doing it for me any more. Nor was the treatments. I was getting sicker
and sicker verging on ulcers and anxiety nuerosis. I couldn't eat or I would over eat What could I do? I phoned for help
and Al-anon gave me an answer. Forgiveness came gradually as I accepted alcoholism to be disease and that the alocholic and addict is sick rather than bad and that life was not just one "bad luck road" of misery. I learn't to ulter my attitude. Today I know how to give comfort and understanding with patience and tolerance whether the human being is related to me or not, whether he is a criminal or my son I can accept the short comings of an individual.
I have learn't trust and faith and in forgiving myself have found forgiveness in others. I have been robbed by the addict who then came to me for help. Did I turn him away - no I reached out to him to show him a better was. Eventually the addict was regreful for his actions and sorry. Today we are friends. This is what can be learn't at Al-anon and Nar-anon in a better understanding of the nature alcoholism and addiction. We learn to turn our pain into strength rather t
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Topic: Re: Alcohol Related Injury and Trauma
Author: Philip Craig | Posted: 26 Aug 2003 |
I think Christa has a great deal to offer in her contribution. What can we do to reduce the incidence of alcohol related injury and trauma?
I believe there is a two tier and possibly more tier approach. The underlying approach of the shift in societal attitude is vital. The model used with the anti-smoking campaign is one to be followed. The reduction in advertising, tighter control on the impressions created in young minds etc.. It is all there for the taking, the model that is. The other issue is that with the Victorian road trauma campaign it appears that there is now a constant percentage of drivers who are still being caught drink driving regardless of the campaigns. Coincidentally it appears to be the same percentage of alcoholics in society. I believe we have reached the core of practicing alcoholics who continue to drink and drive. The approach needs to be one to deal with the disease aspect of alcoholism a different strategy from the public education model.
Information on that approach is freely available. Any assistance I can give let me know.
Philip Craig alcoholic, sober over 6 continual years
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Topic: Re: Alcohol Related Injury and Trauma
Author: Brad Cork | Posted: 28 Aug 2003 |
In this age where we restrict people from using a hand held mobile phone in a car I find it amazing that we allow people to drive at 0.049 blood alcohol when the statistics realting to 0.05 are shocking. All drivers should be subject to a 0.02 alcohol blood limit.
This would also be easier to educate people on. i.e. Don't drink and then drive. At the moment no-one really knows for a given individual how much they can drink and still be legally under the limit.
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Topic: Re: Alcohol Related Injury and Trauma
Author: Jan Ward | Posted: 06 Sep 2003 |
Agree Brad, but think the problem is the same for .02.........0 zero for driving is clear to everyone. No drink to drive, then the variables are null and void.
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