Sir Peter Bottomley MP joined the Alcohol Health Alliance to visit the West Sussex Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Network (DAWN) in April, and saw how the Change Grow Live service helps people to overcome difficulties with alcohol and live life to its full potential.
Sir Peter heard about the damaging impact of alcohol addiction, and the ripple effect on communities. In his constituency of Worthing West, almost a quarter of adults drink above the Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines.
During the pandemic, levels of alcohol harm tragically skyrocketed, and show no sign of returning to pre-pandemic levels. To support services like West Sussex DAWN to cope with the increased demand, more needs to be done.
Both the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) and Change Grow Live are calling on the government to implement an evidence-based national alcohol strategy that tackles the price, availability and marketing of alcohol, and includes increased funding for treatment services to reach more people and save more lives.
Talking about his visit, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, said: “Alcohol addiction is a problem that affects millions of people worldwide, and it is a problem that we cannot afford to ignore.
We must recognise that addiction is not a choice that people make. It is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a compassionate and evidence-based response.
If someone is concerned about their own alcohol or drug habits, I recommend contacting Change, Grow, Live. You can have an open discussion and suggestions of practical ways forward. You will get support.
I give my thanks for everyone involved in the AHA, working together to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve lives.
We work together to reduce the stigma associated with addiction and create a culture of openness and understanding, and make a difference for all those affected by alcohol addiction in our community.”
Change Grow Live West Sussex DAWN Services Manager, Katherine Wadbrook, said: “We were very happy to welcome Sir Peter Bottomley to our hub in Worthing. As the commissioned provider for alcohol and drug services in West Sussex, we are here to support anyone with substance use issues. We work with all ages and have hubs across the county. We have noticed an increase in demand for people seeking help with alcohol use and we would welcome increased funding to allow us to enhance the important work we do.”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: “Every day around 70 people lose their life to alcohol related harm. Tragically, the number of premature deaths from alcohol-related liver disease has increased by over 60% in the past 20 years. Immediate action is needed to turn the tide against rising levels of alcohol harm. As well as increased funding for vital treatment services, we need to prevent future harm through measures tackling the growing affordability, promotion, and availability of alcohol.”
