BOOZE DEATHS REACH CRISIS LEVEL
Shock figures show one person dies every three days of drink-related illness
One person dies every three days in North Lanarkshire due to alcohol, shocking new statistics show.
Figures released by National Records of Scotland revealed there were 109 alcohol related deaths in the region in 2015 – the second highest in Scotland. Only Glasgow City had more with 186 whilst there were 1150 total deaths due to alcohol in Scotland that year. The worrying figures come at a cost of £116£1 million to the region with alco alcohol-related stays at hospitals als oM also playing a big factor. More than 2600 people were kep kept in hospitals due to issues with alco alcohol – which is equivalent to sev seven people a day. O Other factors which make up the £116 million figure include th the cost to the health service, so social care and crime. It is estimated that crime costs fo for alcohol-specific offences is a as much as £48 million for 2015. Alison Douglas, chief e executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “North Lanarkshire has one of the highest levels of alcohol-related harm in Scotland. Tragically, 109 people in North Lanarkshire died because of alcohol in 2015, many of them men in their 40’s and 50’s.
“One in three men and one in six women in North Lanarkshire are drinking above the low- risk guidelines.
“Regularly drinking more than 14 units per week increases the risk of many illnesses including breast, bowel and oral cancers, liver disease and mental health problems. Fourteen units is approximately six pints of beer, a bottle and a half of wine, or half a bottle of spirits.”
“As well as being a major cause of illness, injury and premature death, alcohol damages families and communities, and costs our public services millions of pounds.
“To reduce this harm, we need to tackle the cheap prices, easy availability and constant promotions which encourage us to drink too much.”
SNP MSP Clare Adamson said: “It is clear that alcohol misuse has a profound impact upon our health and other services.
“I am pleased that the Scottish Government has taken a pro-active approach to this by introducing The Alcohol ( Minimum Pricing) 2012 Act which is unfortunately yet to be implemented due to a challenge in the courts.
“Recent research predicts that by year twenty of the legislation, alcohol-related deaths will fall by 120 per year and alcohol- related hospital admissions will reduce by 2,000 per year.
“Alongside minimum pricing, The Scottish Government has invested over £ 319 million in tackling alcohol misuse since 2008, established over 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, introduced a ban on quantity discount alcohol sales and introduced a lower drink-drive limit.
“We, as a society, must examine our cultural relationship with alcohol and focus our efforts to educate future generations as to its true harm.”
In September, a special investigation carried out by the Wishaw Press revealed that a total of 534 people had died from alcoholrelated illnesses in Lanarkshire over the past three years.