Abstinence and alcohol use among urban Aborigines in Western Australia

Aboriginal males and females aged 15 years and over were recruited from patients attending community-controlled health services in Perth and Carnarvon, Western Australia. Questions were asked about present and past use of alcohol. Rates of abstinence and drinking cessation were greater than in the general population. Both samples contained sizeable numbers of people whose weekly consumption of alcohol was within recommended limits. These are encouraging findings for Aboriginal health workers and others concerned to help those who continue to drink at hazardous and harmful levels.