Ka¯ piti areas top alcohol-related admissions
Ka¯ piti should be concerned by regional health figures on the negative impact of alcohol related to hospital admissions that show four of our communities in the top 25 most affected neighbourhoods for the whole Wellington region, Ka¯ piti mayor K Gurunathan said.
“Of particular concern is Paraparaumu Central which tops the region as an area with the highest rate of alcoholrelated hospital admissions.
“It’s number one across the region in both the admissions for acute cases and for chronic cases.”
Waikanae West, Paraparaumu Beach South and Raumati Beach also feature in the top of the list.
“Admissions include for acute intoxication and alcohol poisoning.
“The figures show the influence of alcohol in cases of self-inflicted injuries, falls, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, poisoning and burns.
“Under chronic conditions, the impact of alcohol is wholly related to mental disorder, liver and pancreatic disease, nervous system degeneration and partially linked to a range of illness including cancers, hypertension and respiratory infections.”
The admissions were from July 2009 to August 2018. Paraparaumu Central with a population of 6735 had 137 admissions for acute conditions and 424 for chronic admissions.
“Surprisingly, the figures also show that women between the ages of between 80 to 94 years old were particularly high in admissions under acute conditions.
“With the men aged 55 to 59 years old showing high admissions under chronic conditions.
“The alarming figure was released by Regional Medical Officer Dr Stephen Palmer.
“Ka¯ piti Coast District Council is currently undertaking public consultation on a review of the 2013 Control of Alcohol in Public Places Bylaw.”
In the 2010 Law Commission Report titled Alcohol in our Lives: Curbing the Harm Sir Geoffrey Palmer noted police viewed the impact of alcohol as the biggest problem facing them.
“The Law Commission encourages all organisations, businesses, councils, education bodies and clubs in New Zealand to see what they can do to change the drinking culture by taking steps within their control . . . The law can shape and influence aspects of the culture but it cannot control it,” Sir Geoffrey said.