The apprehension of a 78-year-old Narre Warren North man driving 170km/h in a 100km/h zone in Brandy Creek Road, Warragul reminds us that it is not just young people who drive recklessly.
Some 887 kilometres away, around about the same time in the Sydney suburb of Chipping Norton a 15 year old girl Lucy Lieberman, was killed instantly after her 18 year old boyfriend’s Honda Integra skidded for 80m before it slammed into a power pole, the fourth crash involving P platers in as many days. Flowers now mark the spot where Lucy died.
Her death prompted desperate NSW police to seek new laws allowing them to confiscate the cars of speeding P-platers. Current laws only allow for cars to be confiscated from drivers caught street racing and doing burn-outs. But police want to be able to seize cars from any P-plater who exceeds the speed limit by more than 20kmh
Traffic services commander Chief Superintendent John Hartley has suggested that for the first offence, the driver could lose the car for a week to three months, and the second time they could lose it completely, even if it was their parents' car.
"A second-time offender may have the vehicle forfeited for sale or destruction . . . placing an onus on owners lending cars to P-platers to ensure they do the right thing," he was reported to have said in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
Having enjoyed some success in lowering the road toll, it is time the community gave its leaders the green light to target P platers in the same way. The Victorian Government has the opportunity to continue its pioneering work in public health, exemplified by the success in getting young people to stop smoking in creating a very strong deterrent to stop the senseless loss of young lives.
While there is no doubt that the vast majority of P-platers drive responsibly, there remain a small cohort of young, mostly male drivers, who continue to flaunt the law.
Teenage boys flirt on the edges of danger.
They engage in risky behaviour because they think they have a cloak of invulnerability draped around them.
Many believe that nothing will ever happen to them.
Recent advances in functional MRI technology, known as fMRI, have shed some light on why teenage boys harbor this mistaken belief.
New discoveries provide scientific confirmation that the teenage years are a time of significant transition.
They shed light on the mysteries of adolescence and demonstrate that adolescents have significant neurological deficiencies that cause stark limitations of judgment.
Research suggests that when compounded with known risk factors, these limitations can set the psychological stage for the sort of tragedy that happened in Chipping Norton.
Research shows that adolescent brains are not fully developed: the capacity to make decisions, use judgment, respond to the emotions of others and assess long-term consequences are works in progress.
Even as their brains develop and their cognitive abilities mature, adolescents continue to display psycho-social immaturity.
Which is why they are more prone to peer pressure, tend to focus on reward over risk, act impulsively and are present instead of future oriented.
It is clear from the research that a unique characteristic of teenage boys is an inability to predict the consequences of their actions.
This is largely because during adolescence, the brain undergoes significant maturation called myelination, which streamlines the connections inside the brain, allowing for more reasoned responses.
The general consensus among neuroscientists is that the maturation process is not completed until young adulthood: perhaps as late as 30 years of age, making the teenage brain inherently less capable of balancing emotions and more likely to exhibit risk-taking behaviour.
The result of this delay in brain development can be seen clearly on the roads.
Young people aged 16-20 represent 7 per cent of all drivers but account for 18 per cent of all fatalities.
This number increases to 25 per cent between 10pm and 2am.
So, part of the reason for what happened to Lucy is that the driver was a teenage boy and his brain was simply not capable of making a sensible judgment.
But the sad reality is that the law can do only so much to protect the teenage brain from itself.
One thing is clear: laws that say young people are fully mature at the age of 18 are wildly out of step with modern neuroscience.
Perhaps the loss of their cars – so intertwined now with their sense of self will make a difference. In any case, what would be wrong with a Victorian trial of such a law?
Until the issue is addressed there will be more flowers next to power poles in the years to come.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
5 ways to survive the festive season
For many people, the festive season is a wonderful and happy time; a period of the year in which they interact with loved ones, enjoy good food and receive plentiful gifts. To these people, I say good luck and may you have all the love and happiness you no doubt deserve.
For others, however, this time of year can actually be very difficult. For these people the festive season is a period that reinforces the extent to which they feel alone; for many of these people it simply serves as a reminder of loss (if, for example, someone they know has died or left them). For some people the festive season is just a frustrating interruption to their normal routine and so to all these people, I offer some hope.
Who ever you are and where ever you fit in the general scheme of things there are, regardless of your circumstances, several strategies that will almost certainly be of benefit so I hope you find these helpful and I encourage you to do what you can to implement them in a way that’s appropriate and relevant to you. The reality is that this Christmas might not be ideal for all of you reading this but at the same time, there’s also no doubt that there are things you can do to get through this period with a minimum of distress and hopefully, even some joy!
So let’s look at what you can do:
First, practice appreciation and gratitude. That is, do what happy people do which is focus more on what you have and less on what you don’t have. This is especially useful and helpful in the case of relationships so if you have to spend time with people you’d rather not spend time with, contemplate their more positive qualities and try not to get too bogged-down in the bad; alternatively, if you can’t spend time with people you’d like to spend time with then practice positive reminiscing and meditate upon the good times you’ve had with them in the past.
Second, if you get upset that people don’t call you or that you’re not being invited to the right sort of events get on the front foot, as the cricketers say, and actively schedule enjoyable activities. Rather than being passive and sitting back waiting why don’t you do the phoning and inviting and the organising. Even if it’s just seeing a few friends for a quick coffee, there’s no doubt that social interaction is more often than not mood enhancing so start building that into your December.
Third, make sure you don’t make things harder for yourself by having unrealistic expectations; that is, take the pressure off yourself by acknowledging that ‘the day’ doesn’t necessarily have to be perfect. If appropriate for you, depending on what you’ve experienced over the last twelve months, accept that this year your celebrations just may not be as you’d like them to be – and that’s ok. We all have difficult times and we can only do our best; but hopefully, next year will be a better one.
Fourth, and in some ways extending my previous points, do whatever you can to spend time with people who are most important to you and who are most likely to boost your mood; it might be your children, your parents or other family members, it might be work colleagues or friends. Whom ever it is, make sure you work hard to spend time with those people who are energising and positive and what you’ll probably find is that their attitudes will partly rub-off on you.
Finally, do whatever you can to build and to develop your own hope and optimism (and if you can foster this in others then even better). Try to reassure yourself that next year will be much better and if you’ve not already done so, start making plans to ensure this “better future” becomes a reality and doesn’t end up being just a pipe dream. Focussing on the longer-term and keeping things in perspective is at the heart of resilience and is fundamentally important to being able to work through adversity and bounce back from challenges.
So there it is – five things you can do to have a very merry festive season. I wish you all the best.
For others, however, this time of year can actually be very difficult. For these people the festive season is a period that reinforces the extent to which they feel alone; for many of these people it simply serves as a reminder of loss (if, for example, someone they know has died or left them). For some people the festive season is just a frustrating interruption to their normal routine and so to all these people, I offer some hope.
Who ever you are and where ever you fit in the general scheme of things there are, regardless of your circumstances, several strategies that will almost certainly be of benefit so I hope you find these helpful and I encourage you to do what you can to implement them in a way that’s appropriate and relevant to you. The reality is that this Christmas might not be ideal for all of you reading this but at the same time, there’s also no doubt that there are things you can do to get through this period with a minimum of distress and hopefully, even some joy!
So let’s look at what you can do:
First, practice appreciation and gratitude. That is, do what happy people do which is focus more on what you have and less on what you don’t have. This is especially useful and helpful in the case of relationships so if you have to spend time with people you’d rather not spend time with, contemplate their more positive qualities and try not to get too bogged-down in the bad; alternatively, if you can’t spend time with people you’d like to spend time with then practice positive reminiscing and meditate upon the good times you’ve had with them in the past.
Second, if you get upset that people don’t call you or that you’re not being invited to the right sort of events get on the front foot, as the cricketers say, and actively schedule enjoyable activities. Rather than being passive and sitting back waiting why don’t you do the phoning and inviting and the organising. Even if it’s just seeing a few friends for a quick coffee, there’s no doubt that social interaction is more often than not mood enhancing so start building that into your December.
Third, make sure you don’t make things harder for yourself by having unrealistic expectations; that is, take the pressure off yourself by acknowledging that ‘the day’ doesn’t necessarily have to be perfect. If appropriate for you, depending on what you’ve experienced over the last twelve months, accept that this year your celebrations just may not be as you’d like them to be – and that’s ok. We all have difficult times and we can only do our best; but hopefully, next year will be a better one.
Fourth, and in some ways extending my previous points, do whatever you can to spend time with people who are most important to you and who are most likely to boost your mood; it might be your children, your parents or other family members, it might be work colleagues or friends. Whom ever it is, make sure you work hard to spend time with those people who are energising and positive and what you’ll probably find is that their attitudes will partly rub-off on you.
Finally, do whatever you can to build and to develop your own hope and optimism (and if you can foster this in others then even better). Try to reassure yourself that next year will be much better and if you’ve not already done so, start making plans to ensure this “better future” becomes a reality and doesn’t end up being just a pipe dream. Focussing on the longer-term and keeping things in perspective is at the heart of resilience and is fundamentally important to being able to work through adversity and bounce back from challenges.
So there it is – five things you can do to have a very merry festive season. I wish you all the best.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Internet safety
Most people reading this blog would in all likely never of heard of The University of Central Lancashire (or UCLan) is a university based in , UK. Before 1992, the University had been Preston Polytechnic since September 1, 1973, and then Lancashire Polytechnic in 1984.
UCLan run a unique course entitled 'Child Safety on the Internet'. The course organisers have recognised that the net and mobile phones are an essential part of our lives used routinely by most people in banking, shopping, working and communicating with friends and allowing them to initiate new relationships.
All the evidence points to the fact that generation next are enthusiastic users of the the new technology and enjoy substantial benefits both educational and creative. while not wishing to demonise the net, there are clearly potential risks to the well-being of children and young people, including cyberbullying or the creation of sexually explicit material. There is a need to develop effective education about the risks and opportunities associated with the use of the Internet and other ICTs.
Having enrolled in the course , I have already learnt about the range of emerging mobile and Internet technologies, their use by children and young people, and the associated risks, the most effective ways in which to encourage safe and responsible use of ICTs by children and young people, and enable you to develop the skills to effectively communicate with children and young people.
I strongly recommend the course, and more information can be gleaned from http://www.uclan.ac.uk/index.php
UCLan run a unique course entitled 'Child Safety on the Internet'. The course organisers have recognised that the net and mobile phones are an essential part of our lives used routinely by most people in banking, shopping, working and communicating with friends and allowing them to initiate new relationships.
All the evidence points to the fact that generation next are enthusiastic users of the the new technology and enjoy substantial benefits both educational and creative. while not wishing to demonise the net, there are clearly potential risks to the well-being of children and young people, including cyberbullying or the creation of sexually explicit material. There is a need to develop effective education about the risks and opportunities associated with the use of the Internet and other ICTs.
Having enrolled in the course , I have already learnt about the range of emerging mobile and Internet technologies, their use by children and young people, and the associated risks, the most effective ways in which to encourage safe and responsible use of ICTs by children and young people, and enable you to develop the skills to effectively communicate with children and young people.
I strongly recommend the course, and more information can be gleaned from http://www.uclan.ac.uk/index.php
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Senate inaction
Psychologists and public health advocates across Australia, are calling on the Senate to pass the proposed excise on ready-to-drink, premixed spirits products otherwise known as “the alcopops tax”.
International research demonstrates that taxing alcohol is an effective method of reducing the level of drinking and harms caused by misuse of alcohol. The alcopops tax change should be viewed as a first step in a broader review of the important role that taxation and pricing can play in reducing alcohol-related harm.
Scientific evidence suggests that increasing the tax on these products will reduce the amount consumed at high risk by the youngest drinkers, due to the higher price. We continue to call for more comprehensive alcohol sales data collection to enable more precise measurement of the impact of policy changes. The limited evidence that is available suggests, despite some comments from the drinks industry, that the increased excise on alcopops is already having a positive impact.
Displacement of consumption to other alcohol products is commonly cited as a reason against the alcopops tax. While there is undoubtedly some displacement, the overall effect of such taxes, as shown by the international research evidence, is to reduce consumption.
Alcohol sales data collected by AC Nielsen since the excise was introduced is consistent with international experience. Sales of alcopops have plummeted by 26% in the latest quarter to July, compared to 2007, while spirits have increased by 11% and beer by 1.5%. Compared to the same period last year, AC Nielsen states consumption has declined by 3 million standard drinks.*
Many alcopops were developed for the palates of teenage drinkers. Higher prices for alcopops will prevent some potential “early drinkers” from starting and they will be protected from the risk of irretrievable damage to the developing brain, the risk of injury and mental health problems.
No single measure will prevent all underage and risky drinking. The alcopops tax serves as a foundation for a range of evidence-based strategies to deter underage and other risky drinking. The alcopops tax initiative recognises alcohol misuse imposes economic and health costs on the whole community and the government has committed substantial proceeds from the tax to prevention and related programs. For these reasons we believe it is important and worthy of support for the longer term benefit of all Australians.
I am hoping that the Senate can put aside political differences and vote on the basis of sound research evidence, rather than liquor industry propaganda. The alcopops tax measure is one important step in what needs to be a comprehensive response to the burden of alcohol related harm.
International research demonstrates that taxing alcohol is an effective method of reducing the level of drinking and harms caused by misuse of alcohol. The alcopops tax change should be viewed as a first step in a broader review of the important role that taxation and pricing can play in reducing alcohol-related harm.
Scientific evidence suggests that increasing the tax on these products will reduce the amount consumed at high risk by the youngest drinkers, due to the higher price. We continue to call for more comprehensive alcohol sales data collection to enable more precise measurement of the impact of policy changes. The limited evidence that is available suggests, despite some comments from the drinks industry, that the increased excise on alcopops is already having a positive impact.
Displacement of consumption to other alcohol products is commonly cited as a reason against the alcopops tax. While there is undoubtedly some displacement, the overall effect of such taxes, as shown by the international research evidence, is to reduce consumption.
Alcohol sales data collected by AC Nielsen since the excise was introduced is consistent with international experience. Sales of alcopops have plummeted by 26% in the latest quarter to July, compared to 2007, while spirits have increased by 11% and beer by 1.5%. Compared to the same period last year, AC Nielsen states consumption has declined by 3 million standard drinks.*
Many alcopops were developed for the palates of teenage drinkers. Higher prices for alcopops will prevent some potential “early drinkers” from starting and they will be protected from the risk of irretrievable damage to the developing brain, the risk of injury and mental health problems.
No single measure will prevent all underage and risky drinking. The alcopops tax serves as a foundation for a range of evidence-based strategies to deter underage and other risky drinking. The alcopops tax initiative recognises alcohol misuse imposes economic and health costs on the whole community and the government has committed substantial proceeds from the tax to prevention and related programs. For these reasons we believe it is important and worthy of support for the longer term benefit of all Australians.
I am hoping that the Senate can put aside political differences and vote on the basis of sound research evidence, rather than liquor industry propaganda. The alcopops tax measure is one important step in what needs to be a comprehensive response to the burden of alcohol related harm.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Food Police in SA schools
I love Adelaide and South Australia but some schools over there have some real funny ideas.
There were reports yesterday of several schools ordering teachers to search children's lunchboxes for "inappropriate" food. In some cases, confiscated items were not replaced, leaving children to go hungry.
The SA Department of Education won plaudits with its ban on junk food under the Right Bite strategy launched last year by SA Health Minister John Hill and Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith, but this strategy applied only to food and drinks sold in school canteens and vending machines. Birthday cakes and food or drinks from home were not covered by the ban.
But according to a February 27 memo sent to principals and preschool directors by department deputy chief executive Jan Andrews, each school has discretion to ignore those instructions.
"It is up to each school and preschool community and their governing council to decide how to use the guidelines to encourage healthier eating beyond the requirement that bans junk food in school canteens and vending machines," the memo said.
Unsurprisingly many parents were angry – schools should be about education and not confiscation, and kids should not go hungry because food is taken from lunchboxes.
This is an abuse of power. No school teacher has the right to go into a child's lunchbox and arbitrarily deem some food acceptable and some not. It is a blatant interference in the rights of parents and has to stop now.
Happily, as a result of this fuss, rules on junk food in schools will be sent to all principals in SA government schools this week - clearly outlining the inappropriateness of teachers inspecting children's lunchboxes and confiscating items viewed as unhealthy. Thank God that sanity has prevailed...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
More alcohol industry hijinks
So the alcohol industry have generously offered to "forgo" $200 million collected by the tax on premixed spirits if the Opposition, minor parties and independents reject it.
Usually, when the Senate fails to pass such legislation, the excise collected would go to the alcohol manufacturers. However, the Distilled Spirits Industry Council (DSICA) says the companies don't want it and that the proceeds could fund "harm minimization" activities (DSICA Media Release 29 August).
This sounds impressive, but it shows how desperate is the spirits industry to kill the tax on its youth-friendly drinks. $200 million is a fraction of what alcopops producers will make from future underage drinkers. Economics researcher Chris Doran estimates underage drinkers consume alcohol worth $200 million each year.
The heaviest teenage drinkers consume premixed spirits so it is understandable the producers will do anything to swing the Senate. If the tax is defeated RTD producers will continue to rake in that revenue. The $200 million becomes an insurance policy that ensures the golden stream continues. A one-off $200 million pot for alcohol programs would not be adequate compensation for the defeat of the tax because RTDs would forever be priced artificially low. We have a better idea.
The government (or the Senate) should earmark 10% of the annual revenue from the tax to alcohol prevention. If the excise raises $500 million p.a., as expected, $50 million would be committed to fund alcohol prevention annually.
As the Coalition opposes the tax and the Greens support it, the key people in the Senate are Family First's Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon. Senator Fielding has done his best to counter alcohol marketing and Senator Xenophon campaigns on a "no pokies" platform. It is hard to imagine either doing the bidding of the companies who produce super-strength RTDs, "energy" alcopops, and Jim Beam's "Stalker" campaign. And they surely can't forget price is a major determinant of consumption.
Usually, when the Senate fails to pass such legislation, the excise collected would go to the alcohol manufacturers. However, the Distilled Spirits Industry Council (DSICA) says the companies don't want it and that the proceeds could fund "harm minimization" activities (DSICA Media Release 29 August).
This sounds impressive, but it shows how desperate is the spirits industry to kill the tax on its youth-friendly drinks. $200 million is a fraction of what alcopops producers will make from future underage drinkers. Economics researcher Chris Doran estimates underage drinkers consume alcohol worth $200 million each year.
The heaviest teenage drinkers consume premixed spirits so it is understandable the producers will do anything to swing the Senate. If the tax is defeated RTD producers will continue to rake in that revenue. The $200 million becomes an insurance policy that ensures the golden stream continues. A one-off $200 million pot for alcohol programs would not be adequate compensation for the defeat of the tax because RTDs would forever be priced artificially low. We have a better idea.
The government (or the Senate) should earmark 10% of the annual revenue from the tax to alcohol prevention. If the excise raises $500 million p.a., as expected, $50 million would be committed to fund alcohol prevention annually.
As the Coalition opposes the tax and the Greens support it, the key people in the Senate are Family First's Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon. Senator Fielding has done his best to counter alcohol marketing and Senator Xenophon campaigns on a "no pokies" platform. It is hard to imagine either doing the bidding of the companies who produce super-strength RTDs, "energy" alcopops, and Jim Beam's "Stalker" campaign. And they surely can't forget price is a major determinant of consumption.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The alcohol industry shows it's true colours
I am sick of the politicians and their hand wringing about the seemingly insoluble dilemma of teenage drinking. Parts of the alcohol industry spend about a million dollars a day on advertising and promoting their product direct to young people, and yet the politicians wonder why one kid dies weekly and 60 are hospitalised (on average) from alcohol abuse, each week in Australia!
Once again parts of the alcohol showed their true colours , when last Thursday morning Jim Beam Australia closed the website that featured its new "Neighbours" advertising campaign. It followed a report that day in The Age that the Australian Drug Foundation and Vichealth were making official complaints against the campaign.
The "Neighbours" campaign is designed for The Footy Show audience and could have been scripted by Sam Newman. In the main advertisement a couple of blondes wearing not much are spied upon by neighbours while sunbathing.
The "Neighbours" website ran an extended peeping-tom version, a striptease game, another ad that featured a female stalker, and offered a service for viewers to send prefabricated stalking messages to a mobile phone of their choice.
The "Stalker" ad appears to infringe the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) which proscribes "offensive behaviour". However, while most people probably think the promotion of criminal behaviour is offensive, on a previous occasion the ABAC adjudicators decided the clause relating to offensive behaviour applied only to explicit drinking behaviour.
As no person in the ads or on the website was depicted drinking the adjudicators might judge the ad consistent with the code. So why did Jim Beam pull the website? Probably due to bad timing - when the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia is moving heaven and earth to convince the Senate to drop the alcopops tax it can't afford bad publicity generated by an anti-social ad campaign from an alcopops producer. What to do?
The ABAC doesn't work - it can't prevent alcohol brands from designing campaigns glorifying near criminal behaviour, and in any case it has no teeth. The health field needs to learn from the alcohol industry and go straight to the people who make the decisions.
Health workers can't match the "donations" DSICA makes to political parties or the money it pays lobbyists, but we can let politicians know we support the alcopops tax, and want proper controls on alcohol marketing. Join us in sending your views to the key politicians listed below:
Senator Jan McLucas is the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, and has responsibility for alcohol policy for the Commonwealth Government, senator.mclucas@aph.gov.au.
Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Greens in the Senate, senator.bob.brown@aph.gov.au.
Senator Steve Fielding, holds the balance of power in the Senate with Senator Xenephon, senator.fielding@aph.gov.au.
Senator Nick Xenephon, holds the balance of power in the Senate with Senator Fielding, nickx@xen.net.au.
If you are a Mum or Dad who gives a stuff about the health and welfare of your kids when it comes to alcohol, send them an email now....
Once again parts of the alcohol showed their true colours , when last Thursday morning Jim Beam Australia closed the website that featured its new "Neighbours" advertising campaign. It followed a report that day in The Age that the Australian Drug Foundation and Vichealth were making official complaints against the campaign.
The "Neighbours" campaign is designed for The Footy Show audience and could have been scripted by Sam Newman. In the main advertisement a couple of blondes wearing not much are spied upon by neighbours while sunbathing.
The "Neighbours" website ran an extended peeping-tom version, a striptease game, another ad that featured a female stalker, and offered a service for viewers to send prefabricated stalking messages to a mobile phone of their choice.
The "Stalker" ad appears to infringe the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) which proscribes "offensive behaviour". However, while most people probably think the promotion of criminal behaviour is offensive, on a previous occasion the ABAC adjudicators decided the clause relating to offensive behaviour applied only to explicit drinking behaviour.
As no person in the ads or on the website was depicted drinking the adjudicators might judge the ad consistent with the code. So why did Jim Beam pull the website? Probably due to bad timing - when the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia is moving heaven and earth to convince the Senate to drop the alcopops tax it can't afford bad publicity generated by an anti-social ad campaign from an alcopops producer. What to do?
The ABAC doesn't work - it can't prevent alcohol brands from designing campaigns glorifying near criminal behaviour, and in any case it has no teeth. The health field needs to learn from the alcohol industry and go straight to the people who make the decisions.
Health workers can't match the "donations" DSICA makes to political parties or the money it pays lobbyists, but we can let politicians know we support the alcopops tax, and want proper controls on alcohol marketing. Join us in sending your views to the key politicians listed below:
Senator Jan McLucas is the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, and has responsibility for alcohol policy for the Commonwealth Government, senator.mclucas@aph.gov.au.
Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Greens in the Senate, senator.bob.brown@aph.gov.au.
Senator Steve Fielding, holds the balance of power in the Senate with Senator Xenephon, senator.fielding@aph.gov.au.
Senator Nick Xenephon, holds the balance of power in the Senate with Senator Fielding, nickx@xen.net.au.
If you are a Mum or Dad who gives a stuff about the health and welfare of your kids when it comes to alcohol, send them an email now....
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