One in four New Zealanders who die by suicide do so with excessive alcohol in their blood — with the numbers even worse for Māori and Pasifika, a new analysis of coronal data shows.
The findings raise major red flags and should lead to urgent changes to Aotearoa’s suicide prevention strategy and the alcohol sales and supply law, according to the authors of the University of Otago.
New Zealand’s “alcohol-saturated culture” meant the numbers were daunting, but not surprising, said study author and lecturer Dr. Rose Crossin.
“It is abundantly clear that we have a major public health problem in Aotearoa, New Zealand, with alcohol consumption now identified as a major risk factor for suicide.”
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The group of Otago experts on drugs, alcohol and suicide looked at the proportion of suicides between 2007 and 2020 where blood alcohol levels exceeded the legal driving limit of 50 milligrams for every 100 ml of blood.
Of the 4,658 deaths of people over 15, 26.6% were above the limit. The figures for Māori were 32.3% and Pasifika was 35.3%.
Delivered
dr. Rose Crossin of the University of Otago says alcohol is clearly a major public health problem in New Zealand.
Aucklander Raawiri (David) Raatu (Ngāti te Ata Waiohua, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto) said the findings reinforced the need for a review of alcohol laws.
Raatu is the lead plaintiff in a claim by the Waitangi Tribunal that claims the 2012 Alcohol Sale and Supply Act did not protect Māori from harm caused by waipiro (alcohol).
Tragically, a 14-year-old he knew had died in a suspected suicide in an alcohol-related incident a month ago, Raatu said.
Suicide was the number one concern for Māori in South Auckland at the moment, he said, and “it’s all been fueled with alcohol,” so he wasn’t surprised to hear of the findings.
LAWRENCE SMITH/Things
Raawiri (David) Ratuu says the findings provide further evidence that the Crown is failing Māori in terms of waipro-related damage.
†[This is] more evidence that the Crown is failing Māori when it comes to alcohol damage and as a result, Māori are on the back foot of yet another health stat.
“The law must ensure safe and responsible consumption of alcohol. It’s right there in the bloody legislation, but every day it’s becoming clearer that this isn’t happening.”
The study authors urged stricter restrictions on alcohol access, minimum unit prices and greater efforts to limit marketing in sports so that young people are not bombarded with messages.
“What I had to keep in my mind all the time was: we need to focus on being able to do better in the future. How can positive change come from this truly awful statistic?” said Crossin.
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Of the 4,658 suicides aged 15 years and older, 26.6% exceeded the blood alcohol limit.
a Bsick by Green MP Chloe Swarbrick seeking to return the power to communities to decide how many liquor stores can operate in their area and ban alcohol sponsorship in sports was removed from the vote last week.
This would provide an opportunity to debate whether the act was fit for purpose, Crossin said.
The study was published Friday in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
Where to get help
- 1737, Would you like to talk? Call or text 1737 toll free to speak with a trained counselor.
- Mental Health Foundation 09 623 4812, click here to access its free resource and information service.
- thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free SMS 5626
- If it’s an emergency, click here to find your local crisis assessment team number.
- In a life-threatening situation, call 111.