This review provides an overview of alcohol use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples using the latest research. It discusses the historical context and scope of alcohol use, impacts on individuals and whole communities, relevant national policies and strategies, and presents an overview of efforts to address alcohol use and finally, future directions.

The authors of this report argue that measures to reduce illicit drug and alcohol use, improve school retention and improve economic outcomes for Indigenous Australians are essential if Australia is to achieve any long-term reduction in the scale of Indigenous over-representation in prison.

This study examines the correlates of First Nations contact with the criminal justice system. Key risk factors include membership of the stolen generation, psychological distress, and having used illicit drugs and alcohol over the preceding 12 months. The latter increases the marginal risk of arrest by 14 percentage points.