ITV investigation finds the number of rehab facilities in England has fallen by 38% since 2012
ITV’s Tonight programme Are You Drinking Too Much? found a 16% fall in funding for addiction services by local authorities since 2015. It was also found that the number of rehabs has fallen by 38% since 2012 in England. The information, obtained by a freedom of information request to local councils, highlights the need for better support for those with alcohol addiction.
The programme also took a closer look at drinking culture in the UK and how lockdown impacted the way that many of us drink. Dr Richard Piper, CEO of Alcohol Change UK, and Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, were among expert voices that contributed to the show.
Alcohol harm on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic, says Public Health England
Increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic, particularly among heavy drinkers, is likely to be driving an unprecedented acceleration in alcoholic liver disease deaths, according to Public Health England (PHE).
In July, PHE published the trends in alcohol consumption and harm since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show an increase in total alcohol-specific deaths, driven by an unprecedented annual increase in alcoholic liver disease deaths, above levels seen pre-pandemic.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: “Rising alcohol harm has been a devastating consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased drinking among some of the population, rising hospital admissions for liver disease and the highest level of deaths caused directly by alcohol since records began are cause for serious alarm. Tackling alcohol harm must be central to the COVID-19 recovery plan if we are to curb this growing health crisis.”
A closer look at how new fathers can be better supported with their drinking
The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) has published a new blog by Dr Elena Dimova and and Dr Rachel O’Donnell exploring what support could be given to new fathers when it comes to their health.
The blog was written by the authors of IAS’ first peer-reviewed publication from their Small Grants Scheme. The review study looked at men’s alcohol consumption in the context of becoming a father, and found that little is known about the subject, with most studies focusing on mothers’ experiences. The studies that do focus on fathers suggest that not enough support is offered to new fathers although that it is feasible to recruit them through antenatal clinics and hospitals.
The authors of the review argue that that this period offers a “promising avenue for promotion of healthy behaviours” but that fathers often feel excluded and inadequate when engaging with health visiting services.
Special offer available for Catch Me When I Fall, the new novel from Dr Tony Rao
Dr Tony Rao, a consultant old age psychiatrist with a special interest in alcohol use disorders in older people, has written Catch Me When I Fall. The novel highlights the problems faced by older people living with alcohol addiction. All profits will go charity.
You can get 25% off until 30 September 2021, using the code AUTHOR0721 at checkout online if you purchase the book on the publisher’s website.
Alcohol and crime: how drinking impacts policing
Alcohol use is strongly associated with crime and violence. In 2017/18, nearly half a million violent crimes were committed under the influence of alcohol in England and Wales, making up 39% of all violent offences.
In a new blog for the AHA, Mick Urwin, a retired police officer with 30 years of police service, writes about how alcohol use impacted his work and the crimes he investigated.
Job opportunity: Director of Marketing and Communications (ACUK)
Alcohol Change UK is looking for a skilled and motivated Communications professional to join their team.
Leading on projects such as Dry January, the new Director of Marketing and Communications will help bring ACUK’s key messages to the charity’s diverse range of audiences.
Job opportunity: Senior Coordinator (Learning & Development) (AFS)
Alcohol Focus Scotland is looking for a Senior Coordinator to develop and deliver high quality training to diverse audiences. The suitable candidate will identify and develop innovative and engaging learning events and resources which make a real difference to people’s practice.
Events
Seminar and workshop: Not your neurotypical client: Autism, alcohol, and other substances
Alcohol Change UK, the Centre for Applied Autism Research at the University of Bath, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists
9.30am, 6 September 2021
Find out more and book a place here
Alcohol Change UK’s 2021 online conference: rebuild and recover
Alcohol Change UK
22–23 September 2021
Find out more and book a place here
Training course: How the PRIDDY toolkit can help
Humankind
29 September, 1 November, 1 December
Find out more and book a place here
Webinar: ‘Alcohol marketing during the 2020 Six Nations Championship’
Institute of Alcohol Studies, Alcohol Addiction Ireland, SHAAP
2pm, 30 September
Find out more and book a place here
MCA Symposium – Alcohol and health: interventions and recovery
Medical Council on Alcohol
17 November
Find out more and book a place here
Meet the Members
Every month, we speak to a member of the AHA to find out more about what they do and how their organisation is working to end alcohol harm.
Today we meet Holly Gabriel, Nutrition Manager at Action on Sugar. Holly has worked for Action on Sugar for three years.
How does your organisation help to reduce alcohol harm?
Action on Sugar is a group of specialists concerned with sugar and its effects on health. It is successfully working to reach a consensus with the food industry and Government over the harmful effects of a high sugar diet and bring about a reduction in the amount of sugar in processed foods.
We have become increasingly concerned by the level of sugar and complete lack of labelling on alcoholic drinks. Since our survey in January 2020 on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks, which showed some drinks contained a whopping 15 teaspoons of sugar per pack, which is double the added sugar an adult should be having in one day, we have worked closely with our colleagues in alcohol charities to ensure we use consensus action to get alcohol labelling legislation, including nutrition information, across the line.
What inspires you most in your job?
I work closely with individuals and organisations across a broad spectrum of food, drink and public health policy areas. It inspires me that such a diverse group with often differing views can, on the whole, find a consensus and collaborate for action, which is something rarely seen in the political landscape.
What change do you think would make the biggest difference in reducing alcohol harm?
As is the case with harm caused by poor diets, the change we need to see is an acceptance by policy makers that the food and drink environment is negatively impacting our health. The influence the food and drink industry has on our behaviour, far outweighs personal responsibility. Attitudes need to change from the top, that health harming commodities, whether that be alcohol or ultra-processed foods, are essentially killing us.
