Alcohol misuse has long had devastating effects on health and wellbeing in rural and remote communities in Australia, among both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents.

A report commissioned by Menzies and released in late 2010, showed that the cost per person of alcohol-related harm in the Northern Territory (NT) is more than four times the national level.

The total social costs of alcohol consumption in the NT in 2004-05 were estimated at $641.8 million, including healthcare costs of $39.7 million and costs from road accidents of $36.6 million. This equated to $4197 for each adult in the NT, compared to a national cost of $943 per adult.

Our research focus:
  • To translate research into policy to reduce alcohol related harm
  • To work with communities to improve health care services
  • To work with those directly affected by alcohol misuse
  • To investigate the causes, patterns and impacts of alcohol-related brain impairment.
Our research impact:
  • Developed appropriate evaluation strategies for informed public health policy on substance misuse
  • Evaluated the Alcohol Management Plans for Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and East Arnhem
  • Improved community understanding of alcohol misuse
  • Informed treatment for alcohol misuse and related conditions.
Key staff:
Collaborators:
  • Northern Territory Government
  • Northern Territory Research and Innovation Board
  • Alice Springs Hospital
  • Melbourne University
  • Remote Alcohol and Other Drug Workforce.
  1. d'Abbs, P. (2012). Problematizing alcohol through the eyes of the other: Alcohol policy and Aboriginal drinking in the Northern Territory, Australia. Contemporary Drug Problems, 39(3), 371-396.
  2. Hinton, R., & Nagel, T. (2012). Evaluation of a culturally-adapted training in Indigenous mental health and wellbeing for the alcohol and other drug sector. ISRN Public Health.
  3. Jayaraj, R., Thomas, M., Kavanagh, D., d'Abbs, P., Mayo, L., Thompson, V., Griffin, C.  & Nagel, T. (2012). Study Protocol: Screening and Treatment of Alcohol-Related Trauma (START) - a randomised controlled trial. BMC Health Services Research, 12(1), 371.
  4. Dingwall, K. M., Maruff, P., & Cairney, S. (2011). Similar profile of cognitive impairment and recovery for Aboriginal Australians in treatment for episodic or chronic alcohol use. Addiction, 106(8), 1419-1426.
  5. d'Abbs, P., & Chenhall, R. D. (2013). Spirituality and religion in responses to substance misuse among Indigenous Australians. Substance Use & Misuse, 48, 1-16. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2013.800746
  6. Nagel, T., & Griffin, C. (2010). Promoting Self-management in Indigenous People with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 15(2), 85-90
  7. d'Abbs, P. (2004). Alignment of the policy planets: behind the implementation of the Northern Territory (Australia) Living With Alcohol programme. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't]. Drug and Alcohol Review, 23(1), 55-66. doi: 10.1080/09595230410001645556
  8. d'Abbs, P., & Togni, S. (2000). Liquor licensing and community action in regional and remote Australia: a review of recent initiatives. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 24(1), 45-53.
  9. d'Abbs, P. (1998). Out of sight, out of mind? Licensed clubs in remote Aboriginal communities. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 22(6), 679-684.
  10. d'Abbs, P. (2010). Controlling 'rivers of grog': the challenge of alcohol problems in Australian Indigenous communities. Contemporary Drug Problems, 37, 499-524. 
Click here to view more alcohol publications in PubMed.
  1. ABC Darwin Mornings | Sarah Clifford on the History of alcohol laws in the Northern Territory

  2. Aboriginal students among CDU honorees at NT Training Awards

  3. Menzies researchers say zero-alcohol beverages a cause for concern

  4. Zero alcohol dispute over “gateway drink” claims

  5. Drinks industry responds to report linking zero-alcohol products and underage drinking

  6. NT News | Beers fears for children

  7. Zeroing in on zero-alcohol beverages

  8. Zero-alcohol beverages – harm-minimisation tool or gateway drink?

  9. Dry Indigenous community 'months' from opening tavern to combat home-brew

  10. Drinkers get grog despite register

  11. NT News | Panel Revealed

  12. Danny Gilbert names panel for Darwin Dan Murphy’s review

  13. NT’s experience shows there’s much more work needed on booze

  14. Woolworths Group commits to Independent Panel Review of proposed Dan Murphy’s Darwin development

  15. Health experts deny booze rules 'crusade'

  16. Community leaders call for Woolworths Directors to abandon plans for Dan Murphy’s superstore

  17. Sunday Territorian - Bushranger

  18. Sunday Territorian | Liquor watches drunk on power

  19. Campus Morning Mail | The Alcohol and Drug Foundation 2019 research award goes to Menzies School of Health Research

  20. MENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH RESEARCH RECOGNISED WITH NATIONAL AWARD

  21. Bottlo's 'burden of proof' | NT News

  22. CENTRALIAN ADVOCATE | Grog rehab bed shortage

  23. NT News | NT Rehab beds short

  24. One in every 33 people in Northern Territory seeks treatment for alcohol problems

  25. Thousands of Territorians are accessing alcohol treatment

  26. Demand Study for Alcohol Treatment Services in the NT

  27. drinktank | Understanding the harm of alcohol consumption

  28. The social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption

  29. Counting the social, economic costs of alcohol harm

  30. Counting the social, economic costs of alcohol harm

  31. Curious Darwin: Do Darwin residents really drink more than other Aussies

  32. According to NT government, their alcohol reforms are working

  33. Mix 104.9 Katie Wolf with Professor James Smith

  34. NT govt claims grog reforms are working

  35. Katherine goes against the trend on alcohol harm

  36. Health survey of male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in the NT

  37. More banned drinkers busted trying to buy grog in Katherine than anywhere else

  38. ‘Backlash’: Northern Territory alcohol floor price divides community

  39. 'Long-grassers' admit easy access to grog despite reintroduction of banned drinker register

  40. NT News | Data is lacking in BDR

  41. NT Government media release | Evaluation of BDR

  42. Katherine Times | Alcohol reforms rolled out, BDR on track

  43. ABC Radio Alice Springs | Professor Peter d'Abbs

  44. BDR is working, Govt says

  45. Hospitalizations spike as booze bill hits hard | NT News

  46. EXPERT REACTION: NT to be first jurisdiction in Australia with minimum floor price on alcohol

  47. Alcohol harm minimisation investments welcomed by leading NT research institute

  48. Dr John Boffa: reviewing NT alcohol policies

  49. Rivers of grog could run dry - Centralian Advocate

  50. Seminar to debunk myths on alcohol and pregnancy

  51. SBS World News: Do banned drinkers' registers work?

  52. Study probes answers to memory loss for problem drinkers