One in five Australians abuses or becomes addicted to alcohol in their lifetime, revealed a first nationwide study on the prevalence of drinking problems.

"Something is happening ... it's become more acceptable to drink at risky levels. It will take a major national response to turn this around," Teesson said.
Teesson's study, conducted against a backdrop of increasing alcohol sales, is the first in Australia to establish levels of problem drinking according to tightly defined health criteria.
It surveyed nearly 9000 adults Australia-wide, and found 3 percent had abused alcohol over the past year, while 1.4 percent were technically dependent on it.
Over their lives, 18 percent had abused alcohol and 3 percent were or had been addicted.
"Alcohol use disorders remain highly stigmatised [and] the treatment response ... is under funded and poorly co-ordinated," wrote Teesson.
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Teesson's findings have been published in the journal Addiction.
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