Hanmer Clinic only sees people over 18, with clients’ average age being 43 years old.
Younger people may tend not to use services like Hamner, Hancock said.
“We do have a couple of 18-year-olds. I would say, they’re probably far more progressive and wanting to sort things out.”
Alcohol addiction: A complex subject
“The problem is the addiction starts to develop over time, and people’s purpose for drinking shifts,” Hancock said.
A person wanting help for alcohol could face incredible stigma when asking for help, and simply admitting a problem could lead to a real and perceived fear of losing the support of friends and family.
“There’s a lack of understanding about what an addiction is, but there’s also a resistance on an individual level, that somebody’s got an issue until they may be at a point where they’re losing so much.”
Quitting long-term alcohol addiction was not just a simple matter of going cold turkey and quitting drinking on the spot – as the consequences of this can be fatal.
“Coming off alcohol, one has to be careful,” Hancock said.
“We’ve got to assess people. It’s not just a case of, well, stop.”
The risk of detoxing alone
Withdrawing from alcohol addiction can be dangerous, especially for people with severe dependence due to the risk of severe symptoms such as seizures, delirium tremens and even death, co-owner of Mount Medical Centre and addiction specialist, Dr Tony Farrell said.
The first 24-72 hours were the most dangerous for those withdrawing. Symptoms including mild anxiety, shaking, sweating, and nausea, could escalate to hallucinations and seizures, Farrell said.
People seeking detox should seek professional help to manage withdrawal symptoms and receive psychological support for long-term recovery.
He said the first step is asking for help.
People could approach their healthcare provider or go directly to some services such as the Salvation Army, Hanmer Clinic, or Alcohol and Drug Helpline.
Local addiction services such as those available through Te Whatu Ora also offered support, he said.
Reaching out to supportive, non-judgemental friends would provide support and motivation through the challenges of withdrawal.
People battling addiction also had co-existing illnesses, including depression, anxiety or post-traumatic street, he said.
“Many people with addiction have also suffered life events, such as sexual abuse, which also are surrounded by stigma and taboo. Women are also more harshly judged than men, so there are many layers of stigma.”
To reduce alcohol abuse he backed recommendations from Alcohol Action NZ for the Government to raise alcohol prices and the purchase age; limit outlets selling alcohol and sale hours; reduce marketing and advertising of alcohol; and increase treatment options by making addiction services more accessible.
Council actions
In 2021, a Local Alcohol Policy Background Report was released by Tauranga City Council, where the area was shown to have higher rates of chronic alcohol use than the New Zealand average.
The city council implemented the Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) on July 8 of this year, which lays out rules for the sale and supply of alcohol locally.
Changes included bans on new bottle stores in high-deprivation areas, closing time for on-licensed premises moving from 3am to 2am and a range of discretionary conditions that could be applied to off-licenses.
– SunLive