ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND HARM IN 2 WESTERN-AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL CENTERS

The application of national or state alcohol harm-prevention programs at a regional level can be inappropriate. The involvement of local com munities is critical if harm-prevention responses are to be sensitive to local needs. Unfortunately, individuals and agencies usually have l ittle idea of the impact of alcohol at the local level. Alcohol consum ption and harm data have been gathered for Geraldton and Bunbury, two regional centres of comparable size in Western Australia. The indices of harm presented include the nature and cost of hospital morbidity at tributable to alcohol, and drink-driving charges. In Geraldton, the im pact of alcohol tends to be acute and affects young adults, particular ly young males. In Bunbury, the consequences of alcohol use tend to be more chronic in nature and affect older adults. These findings have b een used to inform local harm-prevention responses, but more than that , this study is a practical example of how available data can be aggre gated at a community level to illustrate local alcohol use and harm. T his method can be replicated in any community that wants to understand better the effects of alcohol in its own local context.