Can you hear the mainstream media screaming out re alcohol and Big pharma's DAILY contribution

... listen to the  banshee wail....

http://theconversation.com/australias-daily-alcohol-toll-15-deaths-and-430-hospitalisations-29906

Australia’s daily alcohol toll: 15 deaths and 430 hospitalisations July 31, 2014 2.12pm AEST

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia.

86.2% of Australians aged 14 years and over have drunk alcohol one or more times in their lives1.

37.3% of Australians aged 14 years and over consume alcohol on a weekly basis1.

The age group with the greatest number of Australians who drink daily is 70+ years1.

Around 1 in 5 (18.2%) Australians over 14 drink at levels that put them at risk of alcohol-related harm over their lifetime1.

Around 1 in 6 (15.6%) people aged 12 years or older had consumed 11 or more standard drinks on a single drinking occasion in the past 12 months1.

1 in 4 women drink alcohol while pregnant, even though the Australian alcohol guidelines recommend not drinking during this time1.

$7b is generated by alcohol-related tax. But alcohol costs society $15.3b annually3.
Alcohol caused more than twice as many deaths (3,494) than road accidents (1,600) in 20054.
1 in 10 workers say they have experienced the negative effects of a co-worker’s use of alcohol.

Benzodiazepines

4.5% of Australians aged 14 years and over have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills (including benzodiazepines) for non-medical purposes one or more times in their life1.

1.6% of Australians aged 14 years and over have used tranquillisers (including benzodiazepines) for non-medical purposes in the previous 12 months1.

Benzodiazepines are the second most common drug involved in ambulance attendances in Victoria, after alcohol

Analgesics

Young People

Young Australians (aged 14–24) first try analgesics for non-medical purposes at 15.0 years on average1.

Analgesics are the most commonly used drug (licit or illicit) among 12–17 year olds. By the age of 13, 95% of this age group have used analgesics (mostly for headaches and/or cold and flu symptoms).

4% of 12-17 year olds take analgesics from home without permission and 3% buy them

Non-opioid analgesics (such as paracetamol) are the third most common drug involved in ambulance attendances, following alcohol and benziodiazepines.

Meth/amphetamine (including ice)

Ice (crystal methamphetamine) is the 4th most common drug involved in ambulance attendances, following alcohol,

benziodiazapines and non-opioid analgesics.