Alcohol, drugs and tobacco

Introduction

The following pages have information about the effects of alcohol, drugs and tobacco on your body, including information about alcohol and drug rehabilitation services in the NT.


Alcohol and your health

The Northern Territory (NT) has the highest rate of alcohol consumption per person in Australia.

Drinking alcohol above the safe recommended limits can lead to many health problems. You're putting yourself at risk of injury, disease and death.

To find out more about alcohol and the dangers of mixing alcohol with other drugs, go to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.

Find out about changes to who can buy takeaway alcohol in the NT .

Recommended limits

It takes one hour for your body to process one standard drink - nothing will speed up this process.

If you're healthy, you should drink no more than two standard drinks each day to reduce the risk of disease or injury.

On a single occasion of drinking, you should drink no more than four standard drinks to reduce your risk of injury.

You should always have at least two days each week of not drinking any alcohol.

This will give your liver a break from processing alcohol and help stop you becoming dependent on alcohol.

Binge drinking

Binge drinking means drinking a lot over a few hours or non-stop over days and weeks.

This can be very dangerous as it makes the harms from alcohol worse. Drinking a lot can also stop you thinking clearly and acting sensibly.

Standard drinks

In Australia, all bottles, casks and cans of alcoholic beverages must show on the label the number of standard drinks they contain.

To find out about the national guidelines for drinking alcohol, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health website.

Alcohol and driving

It's safest not to drink if you're going to drive.

Find out more information about alcohol and driving.

Short term effects

Drinking fast is the major cause of death from alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol slows down your brain's control over your breathing. Drinking too much can cause your breathing to drop causing unconsciousness or even death.

Alcohol is diluted by the water content in your body. Females have more fat and less water, so the alcohol is not diluted as much. This is why women get drunk quicker than men.

Long term effects

The risk of harm from drinking alcohol increases with the amount you drink.

If you regularly drink above the recommended safe levels, any of the following can happen:

  • you increase your likelihood of a stroke - three times more likely for men and 13 times more likely for women
  • you are nearly eight times more likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver
  • you are three times as likely to develop liver cancer
  • your liver can be enlarged, which constricts the blood vessels between liver and stomach - if these swollen blood vessels burst you can bleed to death within minutes
  • you can kill brain cells, which affects your brain function
  • men can suffer from erectile dysfunction.

If you're under 18 years old

Not drinking alcohol is the best option for children and young people who are under 18.

Children under 15 are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking. If you're between 15 and 17 years old, you should delay drinking as long as possible.

Pregnancy and breast feeding

Drinking alcohol when you're pregnant can harm your baby. If you're planning to get pregnant, not drinking is the best option.

Find out more information about drinking and pregnancy.

Where to get help

If you're affected by alcohol or drug use, you can call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on 1800 131 350.

The service is a 24 hour phone counselling and information service.

Health professionals resources

For information and resources for health professionals, go to the Department of Health website.


Tobacco and your health

Every year about 15,000 Australians die from diseases caused by smoking. One in two lifetime smokers will die from their addiction. About half of these deaths occur in middle age.

Smoking is the major cause of ill health in the Northern Territory (NT).

Smoking tobacco doesn't just cause major harm to your health. It harms the people around you through second-hand smoke.

Poisons in cigarettes

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. As well as tar and nicotine, there is also the gas carbon monoxide (found in car exhaust fumes), ammonia (found in floor cleaner) and arsenic (found in rat poison).

Effects on the body of smoking tobacco

Inhaling tobacco smoke causes damage to many of the body's organs and systems.

Respiratory system

The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system include:

  • irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box)
  • reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages
  • impairment of the lungs' clearance system, leading to the build-up of poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage
  • increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
  • permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.

Circulatory system

The effects of tobacco smoke on the circulatory system include:

  • raised blood pressure and heart rate
  • constriction (tightening) of blood vessels in the skin, resulting in a drop in skin temperature
  • less oxygen carried by the blood during exercise
  • 'stickier' blood, which is more prone to clotting
  • damage to the lining of the arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis - the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls
  • reduced blood flow to fingers and toes
  • increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of the blood supply.

Immune system

The effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system include:

  • greater susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia and influenza
  • more severe and longer-lasting illnesses
  • lower levels of protective antioxidants, such as vitamin C, in the blood.

Bones and muscles

The effects of tobacco smoke on the musculoskeletal system include:

  • tightening of certain muscles
  • reduced bone density.

Men

The effects of tobacco smoke on the male body include an increased risk of:

  • lower sperm count
  • higher percentage of deformed sperm
  • genetic damage to sperm
  • impotence, which may be due to the effects of smoking on blood flow and damage to the blood vessels of the penis.

Women

The effects of tobacco smoke on the female body include:

  • reduced fertility, menstrual cycle irregularities or absence of menstruation
  • menopause reached one or two years earlier
  • increased risk of cervical cancer
  • greatly increased risk of stroke and heart attack if the smoker is aged over 35 years and taking the oral contraceptive pill.

Babies

Smoking by a mother or father of an unborn baby and child in the first year of its life can have damaging effects on your child.

For more information read smoking, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Other effects

Other effects of smoking on the body include:

  • irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines
  • increased risk of painful ulcers along the digestive tract
  • reduced ability to smell and taste
  • premature wrinkling of the skin
  • higher risk of blindness
  • gum disease - periodontitis.

Diseases caused by long-term smoking

A lifetime smoker is at high risk of developing a range of potentially lethal diseases including:

  • cancer of the lung, mouth, nose, larynx, tongue, nasal sinus, oesophagus, throat, pancreas, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), kidney, cervix, ovary, urethra, liver, bladder, bowel and stomach
  • lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes obstructive bronchiolitis and emphysema
  • coronary artery disease, heart disease, heart attack and stroke
  • ulcers of the digestive system
  • osteoporosis and hip fracture
  • poor blood circulation in feet and hands, which can lead to pain and, in severe cases, gangrene and amputation.

All cigarettes are toxic

It doesn’t help if you smoke weaker tasting cigarettes such as those labelled ‘fine’, ‘smooth’ or ‘refined’.

These cigarettes have holes in the filter that let in air to dilute the smoke, but you still end up inhaling the same amount of chemicals as you would from stronger tasting cigarettes. So you do the same amount of damage.

Where to get help

Find support to help you quit smoking on the Australian Government's Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Further information and resources

For more information and resources, go to the NT Health website.


Volatile substances and your health

Volatile substances give off fumes or vapours that can cause damage to the brain and other side effects when inhaled.

This is called volatile substance abuse (VSA).

Examples of volatile substances include:

  • petrol
  • lighter fuels
  • spray paint
  • glue
  • correction fluids.

To find out more about volatile substances, go to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.

Effects of sniffing

Inhaled chemicals are quickly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and are spread to the brain and other organs.

Within minutes, the user experiences intoxication, with symptoms similar to those caused by drinking alcohol.

As the intoxication lasts only a few minutes, some users prolong the effect by continuing to inhale repeatedly.

Sniffing is always risky, but some situations make it even more dangerous, including:

  • sniffing in an enclosed space or indoors
  • running or doing other physical activity after sniffing - this could cause death due to cardiac sensitisation
  • mixing sniffing with medicines or illegal drugs
  • sniffing when you have other health problems.

Risk of sudden death

Cardiac arrest is a significant risk of sniffing inhalants.

Immediately after inhaling, the user can experience arrhythmia, the irregular muscle contraction of the heart.

If the user doesn't receive immediate medical attention, the heart can lose the ability to pump blood. This is a very quick and unpredictable experience.

Death can also happen several hours after inhalation from respiratory depression.

This means the user's breathing slows down to a dangerous level and can reduce oxygen supply.

Vomiting while the user is intoxicated or sedated can lead to choking.

Hypoxia, which is the reduction of oxygen in the blood, can happen when users restrict the amount of fresh air they can take in.

Cooling agents found in some inhalants such as from aerosol cans can freeze the throat and cause suffocation.

For more information go to drugs and the law.

What to do if someone is at risk

If you are concerned someone may be at risk of severe harm from volatile substance use, you should encourage them to seek:

  • medical advice
  • treatment voluntarily.

If the person doesn’t want treatment

The person may not be willing to enter into voluntary treatment.

If this happens, you may be able to apply to get them assessed.

Apply to have a place declared a VSA management area

Residents and communities can apply to have a place declared a VSA management area and get a management plan approved.

This helps to control the possession, sale and supply, use and storage of volatile substances within that area.


Other illegal drugs and your health

There is no safe level of drug use.

Illegal drugs are:

  • made in unsafe, unclean, hidden and uncontrolled places
  • mixed with different materials
  • often stored and carried in unusual ways.

This makes it very difficult for a person to know or measure how much of the drug they are taking, or what exactly is in it. This makes the drug's use more dangerous.

Types of illegal drugs include:

  • amphetamines
  • cannabis
  • cocaine
  • ecstasy
  • GHB
  • heroin
  • hallucinogens
  • LSD
  • methamphetamine.

To get the facts on illegal drugs go to the Drug and Alcohol Foundation website.

Report a crime

To report a crime about drug selling or other drug-related activity, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or go to the Crime Stoppers NT website.

Further information and resources

For more information and resources, go to the Department of Health website.


Legal medications and your health

There are 2 major types of medicines - prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines.

Prescription drugs

The medications a doctor prescribes for you are called prescription drugs. You can only pick these up at a pharmacy.

Over-the-counter medicines

Over-the-counter medicines do not need a doctor's prescription and can be bought at a grocery or convenience store.

It is important to remember that over-the-counter products include many different substances such as vitamins and minerals, herbal and dietary supplements, laxatives, cold medicines and antacids.

Medicinal cannabis

For information about medicinal cannabis and how it's regulated, go to the NT Health website.

Combining medicines

Any combination of prescription drugs and over-the-counter substances can interact with each other to cause unexpected or unwanted effects. It is important to keep a list of all prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies you take.

Benefits and risks of legal medications

All medicines have risks as well as benefits.

The benefits of medicines are that they can improve your health and wellbeing by treating a disease, curing an infection or relieving pain.

The risks are the chances that something unwanted or unexpected will happen when you use medicines.

Unwanted or unexpected symptoms or feelings that happen when you take medicine are called side effects. These can be minor, such as a headache or a dry mouth. But they can also be life-threatening, such as severe bleeding or irreversible damage to the liver or kidneys.

Consumer medicine information

All prescription medicines have an information leaflet called consumer medicine information (CMI). The content of this leaflet includes important information you need to know before, during and after taking the medicine, including how to use it, side effects and precautions.

You can get a free CMI leaflet from your pharmacist or doctor, or sometimes it is inside the medicine packaging. To read CMIs online go to the Better Health Channel website or the NPS Medicinewise website.

If you're not sure about what information you have, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Information in the CMI can be different to the label on your medicine. Make sure you take your medicine exactly as prescribed and talk to your prescriber if you have any concerns.

Read carefully through the list of possible side effects. For more information speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Drinking alcohol with some medicines can also cause unwanted and sometimes dangerous side effects. These effects include drowsiness with antihistamines or antidepressant medicines. This can be very important for drivers.

About 20% of Australians are believed to take complementary medicines and pharmaceutical medicines at the same time. This increases the risk of side effects, because the active ingredients in the different medicines can clash.

Where to get help

If you're worried about side effects to medicine or you are experiencing unwanted symptoms from medicine you can get help from:

  • your doctor
  • your pharmacist
  • Adverse Medicines Events (AME) - to report a problem with your medicine, call 1300 134 237
  • Medicines - for information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines, call 1300 633 424
  • Victorian Poisons Information Centre - for advice about poisonings, suspected poisonings, bites and stings, mistakes with medicines and poisoning prevention, call the 24-hour helpline on 13 11 26
  • in an emergency call 000.

Alcohol and drug rehab services

In case of a medical emergency, you should call 000.

For other alcohol and drug rehabilitation services, see contacts below available NT-wide and specific regions.

NT-wide contacts

NameContact
NT Mental Health Line (24 hours) P: 1800 682 288
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) P: 1800 131 350
Lifeline Australia P: 131114
www.lifeline.org.au
Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS) P: 1800 111 092
www.dacas.org.au
Quitline P: 13 78 48
www.quit.org.au

Darwin

Find contacts for Darwin below.

Alcohol and other drug withdrawal or detox services

Name What they doContact
Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) Medical supervision and monitoring of patients withdrawing from alcohol and other drugs.

RDH is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Royal Darwin Hospital
Rocklands Drive
Tiwi NT 0810

P: 08 8922 8888
Top End Alcohol and other Drug Services Medical management of alcohol and other drug withdrawal, assessment and counselling.Building 9 Royal Darwin Hospital
Rocklands Drive
Tiwi NT 0810

P: 08 8922 8399

Stringybark
30 Tivendale Road
Berrimah NT 0828

P: 08 8944 8288

Rehabilitation services

Name What they doContact
Amity Community Services A counselling service that specialises in alcohol, drugs and gambling.

Services include assessment, drug education and individual counselling.
155 Stuart Highway
Parap NT 0820
habitwise@amity.org.au

P: 1800 684 372 or 08 8944 6565
www.amity.org.au
Banyan HouseBanyan House provides an alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation program.16 Beaton Road
Berrimah NT 0828

P: 08 8942 7400
www.banyanhouse.org.au
CatholicCare NTPreviously known as Centacare NT, this service provides an alcohol and drugs counselling service including the Drug and Alcohol Intensive Care for Youth (DAISY) program.Shop 10B Goyder Centre
Palmerston Circuit NT 0830
darwin@catholiccarent.org.au 

P: 08 8932 9977
www.catholiccarent.org.au
CAAPS Aboriginal CorporationAn alcohol and other drugs residential rehabilitation program for Aboriginal people.60 Boulter Road
Berrimah NT 0828

P: 1800 894 800 (free call NT only) or 08 8922 4800
www.caaps.org.au
FORWAARD Aboriginal CorporationAn alcohol and other drugs residential rehabilitation program for Aboriginal people.33 Charles Street
Stuart Park NT 0820
info@forwaard.com.au

P: 08 8923 6666
www.forwaard.com.au
Mission Australia Residential Rehabilitation Treatment ServiceA voluntary alcohol and other drugs residential rehabilitation program.30 Tivendale Road
Berrimah NT 0828
MARRTS@missionaustralia.com.au

P: 08 8995 2620
www.missionaustralia.com.au
The Sunrise Centre Addiction Services (The Salvation Army)An alcohol and other drugs residential rehabilitation program, a day program and an aftercare program.24 Beaton Road
Berrimah NT 0828
sunrisecentre@aus.salvationarmy.org

P: 08 8997 1000
www.salvationarmy.org.au

Other services

NameContact
NT AIDS and Hepatitis Council Harm Reduction Needle and Syringe Program 45 Woods Street
Darwin NT 0800
info@ntahc.org.au

P: 08 8944 7777
www.ntahc.org.au

Alice Springs and Central Australia

Find contacts for Alice Springs and Central Australia below.

Alcohol and other drug withdrawal services

Name What they doContact
Alcohol and other Drugs Services Central Australia (ADSCA) Non-residential service providing specialised alcohol and other drug assessment, treatment, referral and managing withdrawal at home.2 Stuart Terrace
The Gap NT 0870

P: 08 8951 7580
Alice Springs HospitalMedical supervision and monitoring of patients withdrawing from alcohol and other drugs.

The hospital is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Alice Springs Hospital
6 Gap Road
The Gap NT 0870

P: 08 8951 7777

Rehabilitation services

Name What they doContact
BushMob Aboriginal Corporation Residential rehabilitation program with outreach counselling support, life skills education, support and case management for clients aged 12 to 25 years old.36 Priest Street
Alice Springs NT 0870
intake@bushmob.com.au

P: 08 8953 3798
www.bushmob.com.au
Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit (CAAAPU)Residential rehabilitation, aftercare and outreach services for Aboriginal clients.290 Ragonesi Road
Ross NT 0873
intake@caaapu.org.au

P: 08 8955 4600
F:  08 8955 5385
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress An Aboriginal primary health care service. It provides social, emotional, cultural, physical health and wellbeing programs.25 Gap Road
The Gap NT 0870
info@caac.org.au

P: 08 8951 4400
www.caac.org.au
Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA)Alcohol and other drugs residential rehabilitation program, transitional aftercare program, independent living program and outreach programs.4 Schwarz Crescent
Alice Springs NT 0870
admin@dasa.org.au

P: 08 8952 8412
F: 08 8953 4686
www.dasa.org.au
Holyoake Alice Springs NTAlcohol and other drugs counselling and support.21 Newland Street
Alice Springs NT 0870 
receptionist@holyoake-alice.org.au 

P: 08 8952 5899
F: 08 8952 5232 
www.holyoake-alice.org.au
Tangentyere CouncilThe council provides a range of support programs for Aboriginal people.4 Elder Street
Alice Springs NT 0870

P: 08 8951 4222
www.tangentyere.org.au

Other services

NameContact
NT AIDS and Hepatitis Council Harm Reduction Needle and Syringe Program Shop 3 Reg Harris Lane
Todd Mall
Alice Springs NT 0870
info@ntahc.org.au

P: 08 8953 3172
F: 08 8953 2925
www.ntahc.org.au

Tennant Creek and Barkly

Find contacts for Tennant Creek and Barkly below.

Alcohol and other drug withdrawal services

Name What they doContact
ADSCA Barkly Alcohol and Other DrugsA specialised assessment, treatment and referral and a non-residential counselling service for people with alcohol, drugs, volatile substances.Level 1 Matt Glynn Building
172 Paterson Street
Tennant Creek NT 0860

P: 08 8962 4386
Tennant Creek HospitalMedical supervision and monitoring of patients withdrawing from alcohol and other drugs.45 Schmidt Street
Tennant Creek NT 0861

P: 08 8962 4399
F: 08 8962 4311

Rehabilitation services

Name What they doContact
Barkly Region Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group (BRADAAG)An alcohol and other drug residential and day program.29 Staunton Street
Tennant Creek NT 0861
info@bradaag.org.au

P: 08 8963 2500
www.bradaag.org.au

Katherine

Find contacts for Katherine below.

Alcohol and other drug withdrawal services

Name What they doContact
Katherine HospitalMedical supervision and monitoring of patients withdrawing from alcohol and other drugs.Gorge Road
Katherine NT 0852

P: 08 8973 9211
F: 08 8973 9000
Katherine Alcohol and Other Drugs Service Alcohol and other drugs assessment, counselling and support.First floor Government Centre
First Street
Katherine NT 0850

P: 08 8973 8403

Rehabilitation services

Name What they doContact
Venndale Rehabilitation (Kalano Community Association)Residential alcohol and other drug rehabilitation centre.Lot 508 McKeddie Road
Katherine NT 0850
admissions@kcaac.org.au

P: 08 8971 7199
F: 08 8971 1105
www.kalano.org.au
Wurli-Wurlinjang Health ServiceCommunity controlled Aboriginal medical service.25 Third Street
Katherine NT 0850
wurli@wurli.org.au

P: 08 8971 0044
F: 08 8972 2376
www.wurli.org.au

Nhulunbuy

Find contacts for Nhulunbuy below.

Alcohol and other drug withdrawal services

Name What they doContact
Gove District Hospital Medical supervision and monitoring of patients withdrawing from alcohol and other drugs. Matthew Flinders Way
Nhulunbuy NT 0880

P: 08 8987 0211
F: 08 8987 0399

Rehabilitation services

Name What they doContact
Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation Clinical services to Aboriginal communities in the East Arnhem Land region. Lot 1425 Arnhem Road
Nhulunbuy NT 0880

P: 08 8939 1900
F: 08 8987 1670
www.miwatj.com.au
East Arnhem Alcohol and other Drugs Service Alcohol and other drugs assessment and information. Nhulunbuy Community Health Centre
Chesterfield Street
Nhulunbuy NT 0880

P: 08 8987 0281