ALCOHOL and drug abuse are the biggest social justice concerns for people in the Wannon electorate, according to a national poll.

The Salvation Army’s Social Justice Stocktake report for 2022, ‘Taking stock of our communities’, was compiled from survey results of more than 15,000 Australians from all demographics across the 151 federal seats.

The survey was undertaken on behalf of the Salvation Army by Pureprofile and showed 58.7 per cent of respondents in Wannon were concerned about alcohol and drug misuse.

This is markedly greater than both the Victorian and national averages of 41.1 per cent and 42.6 per cent respectively.

The results are backed by a 2019 report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and referenced in the Salvation Army’s report, which showed that people living in regional and remote areas were significantly more likely than their counterparts in major cities to drink alcohol daily. 

Regional and remote areas recorded an eight per cent likelihood compared with five per cent in cities, while the long-term risk of harm in regional areas was at 21 per cent compared with 15 per cent in cities.

The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring report released in early March 2022, showed that alcohol consumption continues to rate significantly higher in regional Victoria, well above that of Melbourne.

Statistically, alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations are higher in rural and remote areas compared to urban areas.

The report also recognised that people with alcohol and drug abuse issues were more predisposed to encounter other social issues such as homelessness and family violence.

Mental health, housing affordability, family violence, and homelessness were the next top five social justice issues of most concern to the people of Wannon, which was consistent with survey results from the rest of the nation.

One of the common themes that became apparent from the survey results was the overwhelming feeling of disempowerment and a consistent feeling of hopelessness about how to address the issues.

However, the report’s message was one of hope and said there were measures that could be implemented to address the harm that comes from alcohol and drug misuse.

It recommended the need to understand local populations to provide accessible and effective alcohol and other drug treatment systems that should be situated within a wider welfare support response.

For communities, it recommended the provision of social connection that is not reliant on alcohol or drug use.

As individuals, we can recognise that these are health issues and to listen carefully and connect with people experiencing alcohol and drug misuse, and work to reduce the associated stigma.