New Year celebrations have reached its crescendo. Australians have welcomed the lock-out ruling for New Year’s Eve and are ready to shell out extra to book Uber cabs. Nothing’s going to stop them from celebrating and it has always been that way. It’s that time of the year when a new year is around the corner and people go berserk and out-of-their-way to celebrate. However, it is also that time of the year that brings with it health and assault concerns related to excessive alcohol intake and drug use.

New Year revellers have been urged to stay sober and stay away from drugs as it only results in people falling sick and turning violent. Figures have shown that every year during New Year celebrations, there is a dramatic surge in the number of assaults between 10 pm and 4 am, reports The West Australian. WA police figures over a five-year period suggest that compared to other nights in December and January, “the average number of assaults per hour was more than eight times higher between 10 pm and 4 am on New Year’s Eve.”

Many of the assaults happened because of the bad judgment of people who were under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan believes that people under the influence and with the New Year high do not understand when to back down or walk away from a conflict.

Tim Marney, the mental health commissioner, pointed out that Australians have suffered greatly in recent months due to illicit drugs. In November, Sydney’s Stereosonic music festival saw the effects of drugs as a woman died and hundreds suffered drug overdose. Nearly 70 people were charged for supplying drugs.

According to ABC News, a number of music festivals are lined up for WA over the holiday season. The “Origin” festival is to be held in Perth on New Year’s Eve. Busselton will host the “Southbound” festival early January. The agency is working closely with festival organisers and ensuring that there is enough water available in the venues.

“They're working cooperatively with us but at the end of the day, it's the individuals choice whether or not they take something, not the event organisers,” said Mr. Marney.

He has also urged people to help others in trouble or those who are not feeling well.

“Someone who's clearly distressed, or is having trouble breathing, is incoherent or not aware of their surroundings, is struggling to function normally, they're all pretty good signs something is going badly wrong for them and they need assistance to get help,” he added.

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