PIVOT is a leading early intervention service designed to help Kiwis who struggle with alcohol and substance misuse.

River Paton, PIVOT Specialist Service Manager, said, “Saturday’s Crate Day, an annual event where people are encouraged to consume an entire crate of 750ml beer bottles, raises serious questions about our society’s relationship with alcohol. While the messages of “looking after yourself” are very clearly communicated, we would question whether these are strong enough to counteract the deeply ingrained culture of excessive and hazardous binge drinking that events like Crate Day celebrate.”

Binge drinking is a problem in New Zealand with recorded numbers higher than in Australia or the UK¹. A New Zealand Medical Journal study released earlier this year examining emergency department alcohol-related admissions during Crate Day weekend in Waikato in 2019 and 2020 found that 100,000 people presented to the ED on those weekends, and the number of people in their early 20s doubled compared to a normal weekend[2].

Ms Paton added “These are statistics we shouldn’t be proud of, and we’re very concerned that events like Crate Day push the boundaries by promoting excessive alcohol intake, the social and health impacts of which are significant.

“For us, the issue with Crate Day is not only the immediate risks associated with binge drinking but because many of our younger adults participate, it is likely to have a long-term negative impact on our relationship with alcohol, which, for many New Zealanders, is already very unhealthy – an estimated 1.2 million adults in New Zealand are at risk of their alcohol and drug use becoming problematic.

“Instead of promoting events that glorify excessive drinking, we should all be helping to break the cycle of alcohol harm, and rather than endorsing events which glorify excessive drinking, we should be supporting moderation, personal responsibility, and assisting people who are struggling to seek support when needed.

“It is crucial for individuals, communities, and policymakers to collectively address the root causes of problematic drinking behaviours and work towards creating an environment that supports healthier choices. At PIVOT we remain committed to raising awareness about the consequences of alcohol misuse and providing resources for those seeking help,” she says.

For more information on PIVOT, visit our website.

[1] https://www.alcohol.org.nz/impacts-of-alcohol/history-and-culture/binge-drinking#:~:text=Today%27s%20binge%20drinking%20culture,-While%20you%20may&text=around%20one%20in%20three%20men,drink%20tend%20to%20have%20more.

[2] https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/alcohol-related-presentations-to-emergency-departments-on-crate-day-in-waikato-new-zealands-to-emergency-departments-on-crate-day-in-waikato-new-zealand

The post Explore challenges acceptance of dangerous binge drinking norms amidst Crate Day hype appeared first on New Zealand Health Group.

PIVOT by Explore, a new early intervention programme specifically designed for New Zealanders who are not addicts but who struggle with the impact alcohol and drugs is having on their daily lives, has launched.

Ray Finch, General Manager of leading wellbeing organisation Explore, said that by offering the right type of support at the right time to the people who need it, PIVOT aims to address an urgent and significant unmet need.

“An estimated 1.2 million adults in New Zealand are at risk of their alcohol and drug use becoming problematic. These are people we commonly refer to as the missing middle – they’re not classified as addicts or they haven’t yet reached what we’d consider ‘rock bottom’, but their substance use is causing issues.

“Left unsupported, we know that alcohol and drug misuse can have far-reaching consequences – on the individual, their families, whānau, friends and communities.

“PIVOT, which is an 8-week, evidence based, holistic early intervention service, provides a tailored pathway to support the individual and help them take back control over their daily lives and reduce the debilitating impact of substance misuse, before it’s too late,” said Mr Finch.

In sharing his journey to recovery, Mitch Ingram explains how he believes an early intervention programme could have helped him before drugs took over his life:

“I knew I needed help. My [former] wife reached out to a couple of places, but the one hour per week I received didn’t help at all – there was no consistency and no connection with the stranger at the other end of the phone. I was told I wasn’t bad enough, and when you’re told this, you want to believe it, but in reality, I couldn’t have got any lower than how I was feeling. I was ruining my marriage, my job, and my life.  I was one of the neglected – I was a missing middle!

“There are so many people who are at the top of the slippery slope towards addiction, but sadly there’s not enough services or the right type of services available to treat the underlying reasons for misusing alcohol and drugs. Importantly we need to offer a holistic approach with wraparound support because for me, using drugs was the last piece of the puzzle, not the first.

“Most people don’t want to have to use alcohol and drugs to make themselves feel better or get through the day. I desperately wanted to wake up and not have that feeling – I wanted to enjoy my children, enjoy going to work again and enjoy laughing, but I couldn’t because everything was so painful.

“The earlier we can help the better. It’s important to acknowledge that we’re not going to help everybody, but it has to be better than helping no-one.”

Ray Finch adds “By shifting our focus to early prevention we can help address the underlying complex needs before the use of alcohol or drugs escalates into addiction, which requires acute treatment, and often an emergency response. Through early intervention, individuals have a greater opportunity to regain control, build resilience, and make healthier choices,” said Mr Finch.

“We’ve based PIVOT on the Te Whare Tapa Whā model of wellbeing. It is a comprehensive and personalised approach that supports individuals in overcoming their substance use challenges and improving their overall well-being.

PIVOT’s multidisciplinary team of licensed therapists, addiction specialists, and mental health professionals will work collaboratively to provide tailored interventions and resources. The programme includes one-on-one counselling, support groups, psychoeducation, and relapse prevention strategies, ensuring a comprehensive and individualized approach to support participants on their journey to recovery and better wellbeing.

For more information, please visit the PIVOT website.

The post New early intervention programme helps ‘The Missing Middle’ manage alcohol and drugs appeared first on New Zealand Health Group.