People in East Lancashire are being encouraged to think about the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption as part of the national Alcohol Awareness Week which is taking place from today until Sunday.
The week is celebrated every year across the country and this year is led by Alcohol Concern with the theme “Facing our alcohol problem: Taking back our health and high streets.”
Alcohol associated crimes cost to the NHS and local authority services, in addition to the lost workforce productivity, amounts to more than £3 billion per year in the North West. In 2012, 21,485 deaths were attributed to alcohol use in England.
Members of Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Health Improvement Service, in partnership with Inspire and Early Break, are raising awareness of the issues associated with alcohol use and the impact this can have on people’s health and within local communities.
Gareth Beck, Health Improvement Specialist from the Health Improvement Service, said: “Certain areas of East Lancashire have some of the highest rates of alcohol related deaths in England.
“Alcohol Awareness Week is a great time for us to get messages out to the public around lower risk guidelines, unit levels and the significant impact regular drinking has all aspects of health.
“Alcohol not only causes short term issues such as the dreaded hangover but also impairs judgment, associated falls and accidents but is also a contributory factor with domestic violence, fires and crime.
“Long term effects of excessive alcohol consumption can lead to health risks such as alcohol related brain injury, poor nutrition and obesity, cirrhosis and liver disease and also a factor in the onset of several cancers.
“Excessive alcohol consumption can also have a massive impact on children.
“According to research conducted by Drink Wise, there are 2.1 million children in England who are affected by alcohol and 170,000 children suffer from neglect as a result of other’s drinking.
“These statistics are very shocking and we are working with local communities and organisations to raise awareness of the importance of drinking responsibility.”
You can find out more information about Alcohol Awareness Week by visiting www.alcoholconcern.org.uk.
To find out more information about alcohol and the effects it has on children, visit Drink Wise North West’s website at www.LookAgainAtAlcohol.org.uk.