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. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager