Pubdate: Wed, 19 Dec 2001
Source: Advertiser, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 News Limited
Contact:  http://www.advertiser.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1
Author: Laura Kendall, Youth Affairs Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

BLUE-COLLAR WORLD OF WORK, DRINK, DRUGS

YOUNG people working in non-professional trades binge-drink, smoke and use 
drugs at "much higher levels" than other youths, research shows.

Builders, hairdressers and manufacturing workers aged 15 to 25 lead the 
most "toxic" lifestyles, an Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and 
Society study reveals.

The study of 400 young workers across five trades found:

SIXTY-ONE per cent of young people in the building industry regularly 
consumed more than seven drinks in one session.

YOUNG building industry workers were the most common users of marijuana and 
other illicit drugs.

ALMOST two-thirds of young builders had three or more sexual partners in 
the previous 12 months.

HAIRDRESSERS were the heaviest smokers, with 71 per cent regularly lighting up.

Research fellow Jo Lindsay, who led the study, said many non-professional 
industries had a "party image" where drinking and drug use were taken for 
granted.

"(Hairdressing) has always had a big party culture. They're concerned with 
body image and fashion and they're out having fun," she said. "There's also 
a very strong drinking culture in the building industry and that has been 
the case for years and years. "These young people are taking risks in their 
social lives at least as much if not more than young people in professional 
jobs."

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Martin 
O'Malley said he was "not surprised" by the high numbers of young building 
industry workers who drank excessively.

"(They) work long hours, it's hard work and if they can get a day off it 
doesn't surprise me that people really hit (alcohol) hard because that's 
their release for the week," he said.

The CFMEU had implemented a drug and alcohol education program for building 
industry workers.

SA Drug and Alcohol Services Council senior project officer David Watts 
said many young workers used alcohol to impress older colleagues.

"If you were a young male and a builder's labourer drinking with older 
workers, there would be a lot of pressure to keep up and be a man," he said.

"They want to be like their mates."

Ms Lindsay said non-professional industries should implement health 
programs for their young workers.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager