Regular and risky drinking is common among many young Australians, leading to significant short and long-term harm; yet little is known about the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programs.
Location: Australia
Reports in the literature show that health professionals rarely give mothers advice on alcohol consumption and lactation. In one US study nearly half of mothers surveyed were advised to drink alcohol while only one sixth were advised to abstain. However, alcohol is generally reported to have a number of adverse effects on lactation and infant behaviour.
This pilot project examines alternative ‘Rites of Passage’ which have the potential to be developed into formal transition points between childhood and adulthood. Because there are no longer any formalised rites of passage, young people have adopted other processes to signify their passage to adulthood.
