Government’s programme of improvements just one piece of the jigsaw

16th November 16th 2005 - For Immediate Release

Government?s programme of improvements just one piece of the jigsaw

Alcohol Concern welcomes the publication of new guidance for local health planners on improving alcohol services, but fears that those who need specialist help will be forgotten.

Responding to the government?s publication of ?Alcohol Misuse Intervention: Guidance on developing a local programme of improvement? Srabani Sen, Alcohol Concern?s Chief Executive, said:

?We?re pleased to see the government are making clear to local decision-makers how they can provide support to problem drinkers. It is right that government emphasises the need to identify people who drink problematically, and we support this drive. The provision of brief interventions (see notes) will certainly help some people to change their relationship with alcohol.

But this is just one piece of the jigsaw, and the danger is that screening problem drinkers without providing appropriate specialist services will leave even more people unable to access the help they need. There are already at least 1.1million people dependent on alcohol; screening may identify more people who need help, so it is crucial that specialist alcohol services are not sidelined.

We know that alcohol treatment works, we know that it is cost effective, and we know there is a real need out there. The government admits that currently 17 out of 18 of those who need alcohol treatment do not get it. Identifying more problem drinkers without increasing access to specialist treatment services will only make the problem worse.

Providing guidance for local decision-makers is welcome, but if that guidance has no teeth then we are likely to see a continuation of the postcode lottery in treatment provision. Those local health planners who see alcohol misuse as a priority will improve their services, but those who do not may ignore government advice. The government needs to put weight behind their recommendations and take positive action to ensure they are implemented on the ground.?

Alcohol Concern is calling for:

§ a national target to reduce the damage done by alcohol misuse;
§ specific local targets in Primary Care Trusts? Local Delivery Plans to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve access to alcohol treatment; and
§ the implementation and outcomes of this new guidance to be monitored and measured, to ensure that those problem drinkers who need the most help are not overlooked.

ENDS



· ?Alcohol Misuse Intervention: Guidance on developing a local programme of improvement? is available at www.dh.gov.uk/alcohol.

· The UK Alcohol Treatment Trial found that for every £1 spent on treating problem drinkers, £5 is saved in spending on other aspects of health and social care and the criminal justice system.

· The government?s Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project (ANARP) showed that on average only 1 in 18 of those in need of treatment were able to access it. This figure varied widely across the regions, with only 1 in 102 people in need accessing treatment in the North East (the lowest access region) and 1 in 12 people accessing treatment in the North West.

· Alcohol misuse kills around 22,000 each year. The number of deaths from liver cirrhosis has increased by 90% over the last decade.

· A brief intervention can range from 5-10 minutes of information and advice given to an excessive drinker to 2-3 sessions of motivational interviewing or counselling.

· For all enquiries or to speak to Srabani Sen, please contact the Alcohol Concern Press Office on 020 7928 7377 or email press@alcoholconcern.org.uk. For out of hours press enquiries, please call 07866 063013.

Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse. We work to reduce the incidence and cost of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems and their families.

Date: 16 November 2005