In 2007, 6,541 deaths in England were directly related to alcohol consumption.
In the last five years, alcohol-related hospital admissions in Yorkshire and the Humber have risen 37% from 66,684 in 2004/05 to 91,345 in 2008/09.
Across the Region, 45% of men and 39% of women report drinking more than the Department of Health recommended daily units (3-4 or 2-3 units respectively) on their heaviest drinking day. This ranks us second highest among all english regions for hazardous drinking, with only the North West reporting higher figures.
There are complex links between alcohol consumption, deprivation and social class. Although managers and other professionals report that they consume the most alcohol, people living in the most deprived fifth of the country are more likely to die from alcohol-attributable causes and alcohol specific causes. They are also more likely to be admitted to hospital because of an alcohol use disorder.
The public health team works with partners including local NHS services, the National Treatment Agency, local authorities, the police, probation services, prisons and the Home Office to tackle the health and social challenges associated with too much alcohol.
Changing people's attitudes to alcohol is a major undertaking and will take time.
Seven priorities for tackling the effects of alcohol misuse have been identified following the Yorkshire and the Humber Great Drink Debate in 2008/09. These priorities will form the basis for a regional strategy to reduce alcohol related harm which is expected to be published later in 2010, followed by a detailed action plan.
We will also work to implement the Healthy Ambitions recommendations agreed by senior clinicians in the region. These are:
Industrialise’ screening and brief interventions in the NHS – and other front line settings.
Improve screening and identification of people with alcohol use problems. Commission the systematic use of brief interventions across NHS services and into other public sector services.
Commission a range of specialist alcohol treatment services
Commission a range of ‘tiered’ services and ensure simple referral routes are accessible from screening points. Services to be commissioned separately from drugs misuse services – and ‘decoupled’ from national funding streams.
Address availability and low cost of alcohol
NHS and other organisations to work together to reduce the accessibility of alcohol, including an increase in its price.
Further information
Please click on the links below:
Healthy Ambitions – staying healthy pathway
http://www.healthyambitions.co.uk/HealthyAmbitions/Staying-Healthy.aspx
Staying Healthy QIPP resource pack
http://www.yhpho.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=79123
Alcohol Learning Centre website
http://www.alcohollearningcentre.org.uk/
North West Public Health Observatory
http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/default.aspx
