Alcohol
- It is estimated there are around 131,000 hazardous drinkers; 32,000 harmful drinkers and 21,000 dependent drinkers in Staffordshire. All may benefit from some kind of intervention or treatment.
- In Staffordshire in 2005-06 there were just over 5000 offences committed where the offender was under the influence of alcohol. Around two-thirds of these offences took place on a weekend and around three-quarters of all these offences were for violent crime.
- Whilst the level of alcohol-related crime has remained fairly stable across Staffordshire over the last three years, although this has varied by district. The biggest increase and the highest rates were in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tamworth and the Moorlands, where the alcohol-related crime rate per thousand population was 12.7, 8 and 7.1 respectively, compared to a county figure of 6.2 per thousand.
- In 2005-6, the offender was under the influence of alcohol in a quarter of all recorded Domestic Violence incidents. In some districts this was as high as 42% of all incidents (Newcastle-under-Lyme).
- Anti-Social Behaviour incidents, whereby the offender was caught drinking in the street, have increased considerably over the last 2 years from 637 incidents in 2005-06 to 1486 incidents in 2006-07
- In Staffordshire around 15,000 children have at least one parent who misuses alcohol to a significant extent
- The Staffordshire Child Protection Register shows that alcohol misuse was noted in 170 cases (18.5%), substance misuse in 102 cases (11.1%) and 276 cases (29.9%) domestic violence
- Alcohol-related hospital admission rates in Tamworth are almost twice those in Lichfield for men, whilst rates for women in Cannock are almost double that for South Staffordshire
- With the exception of the under 25 age group, admission rates for men are higher than women across all age groups
- Alcohol-specific admission rates are particularly high in men aged between 35 and 64
- Men from deprived areas are four times more likely to be admitted to hospital compared with those living in the least deprived areas
- The number of women in Staffordshire dying from chronic liver disease is above the national and regional average
- Under 18 hospital admissions for alcohol specific conditions are higher in Staffordshire than the regional and national figure, particularly for females
- The Standardised Mortality Rate for chronic liver disease is relatively worse compared to the regional and national figures for females in Staffordshire
- Using estimates based on national figures, the cost of alcohol misuse to society in Staffordshire is around £324 million annually
- For every £1 spent on alcohol treatment, the public sector saves £5
Substance Misuse & Health Issues in Staffordshire report October 2007
Substance Misuse Report 2007
Health Inequalities
- Alcohol in excess is a significant public health problem and important contributor to inequalities. The risks are not spread evenly throughout society and harm due to alcohol is often disproportionate, it affects those who are more likely to be materially disadvantaged. A characteristic of excess drinking is that is not only the user, but those around them who are harmed.
- Research has found a high prevalence of alcohol dependency amongst single homeless people - and that the severity of dependency worsens with housing circumstance with the highest levels (50%) amongst rough sleepers.
- An estimated 25% of drug misusers also misuse alcohol
Standard health advice for recommended consumption is that:
- Men should not drink more than 21 units per week and not more than 4 units on any one day
- Women should not drink more than 14 units per week and not more than 3 units on any one day
- Pregnant women or women planning a pregnancy should not drink at all. If this is impossible then every effort should be made to reduce as much as possible the amount of alcohol consumed
Units of Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is measured in units. One unit equals 8 grams of alcohol which is roughly equivalent to:
- Half a pint of ordinary strength beer
- A very small glass of wine
- A single pub measure of spirits
- A glass of sherry or other fortified wine
National and Local Targets
Under an agreement with government Staffordshire County Council Health Development Team co-ordinated a local partnership to deliver a target to reduce alcohol consumption by young people by 5%.
Through a multi agency programme, the final survey in March 2008 of over 4500 students showed that there was a reduction from 33.1% to 26.5% of Young People regularly drinking alcohol.
Click on the link below to see a summary of the outcomes and effectiveness of this local project.
http://www.nice.org.uk/usingguidance/sharedlearningimplementingniceguidance/examplesofimplementation/eximpresults.jsp?o=153
What is effective in Reducing the Harm Caused by Alcohol?
Measures to reduce harm to health resulting from excessive drinking are required at several levels. The Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy proposes four main approaches: better education and communication about alcohol, improved treatment services, action to combat alcohol related crime and disorder and work in partnership with the alcohol industry.
The following links below also provide further information and evidence on alcohol and suggested programmes and developments to tackle it effectively.
Local Services
For information on alcohol advice and treatment services in Staffordshire contact the Drug Action Team. The Team is based at:
Officers' Mess
24 Gaol Road
Stafford
ST16 3AN
Tel: 01785 223176 (24 hrs)
Fax: 01785 223177
Staffordshire County Drug and Alcohol Team have a web site outlining their work. This can be visited at:
www2.staffordshire.gov.uk/drugactionteam
Last Modified:
26/09/2008 15:10:35
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