Publications

The harm caused by alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use in adolescents is substantial. In addition to increased risk of addiction, adolescent substance use can lead to accidents and injuries, medical conditions such as asthma, anxiety, depression, psychosis and impaired brain function, poor academic performance, unintended pregnancies, criminal involvement and even death.

This newsletter highlights Te Hiringa Hauora/Health Promotion Agency research published from 1 November 2019 to 29 February 2020.

A large number of factors affect youth drinking and subsequent alcohol-related harms; this evidence review aimed to improve understanding about three specific focus areas: age of first drink, patterns and trajectories of drinking, and parental supply of alcohol. Literature reviews looked at the link between each of the focus areas and alcohol-related harms in adolescence and adulthood.

This report looks at pre-drinking behaviour (the consumption of alcohol before a night out or event) in Hamilton’s Central Business District at night. The research found that most people who had consumed alcohol had been pre-drinking, and that pre-drinkers had significantly higher breath alcohol than non-pre-drinkers throughout the night.

This infographic presents key findings from the 2018 Health and Lifestyles Survey concerning respondents’ experiences of second-hand gambling harm for themselves or for others close to them and their concern about the level of gambling within their communities.