Conference called to tackle problem drinking in County Durham

12th November 2004

Research shows that nearly a third of adults in County Durham are risking their health by binge drinking ? a significantly higher proportion than the national average, warns national charity Alcohol Concern . Not only this, rates of alcohol-related domestic violence, anti-social behaviour and drink driving are set to remain unchanged unless coordinated action is taken by local services, including the police, health services and local government, says the charity.

A conference, called ?Alcohol In Durham: The Challenges Ahead?, will be held on 12th November to reveal findings of a new report made by Alcohol Concern for the Durham County Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), which assessed the needs arising from alcohol misuse throughout the region and the action needed by local services.

Alcohol problems in County Durham include:

· Significant levels of family breakdown - due to parental alcohol misuse.
· High rates of alcohol-related domestic violence.
· High rates of teenage pregnancy, which have been linked to alcohol use in the county.
· A high level of alcohol problems among older people in designated housing.
· There is a clear culture of binge drinking from an early age, leading to alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

Alcohol Concern found that these problems are fuelled by the lack of awareness among young people, lack of acknowledgement about alcohol problems by community safety schemes and limited resources for treatment services, leaving many people in the county vulnerable to the effects of alcohol-related harm.

Richard Phillips, Acting Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, says:

?Alcohol misuse not only affects individuals and their families, but also health services, social care and the criminal justice system.

?The outcomes of our needs assessment appears to paint a dismal picture but armed with this information, local government, health services and Crime Reduction Partnerships can begin take some positive steps forward to tackle alcohol-related harm throughout the county - from better provision of currently limited or unavailable treatment and counselling services to community crime and disorder schemes.

He adds: ?There is a culture whereby binge drinking has become socially acceptable, especially amongst 16-24 year olds, which also highlights the desperate need for more information and education in Durham about the effects of this sort of drinking.?



David Cliff, County Durham Drug and Alcohol Action Team Co-ordinator, says:

?We have a strong lead from the National Treatment Agency regarding drugs, and we now need to work to ensure that alcohol is kept firmly on the agenda.?

Key recommendations from the report will be discussed at the conference, which takes place at the Bowburn Hall Hotel, in Durham from 9am. Key speakers include Acting Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, Richard Phillips, Assistant Chief Constable, Gary Barnett, from Durham Constabulary and leading national expert in alcohol-related domestic violence, Sarah Galvani.

ENDS

For more information about the conference on 12th November, contact Tina Young at County Durham & Darlington PCT, on 0191 333 3382

For press enquiries, please contact Sophie Davison, Alcohol Concern press office, on 020 7928 7377.

Notes to editors

· The conference, ?Alcohol In Durham: The Challenges Ahead? starts and 9am and finishes at 1pm.

· Other speakers include;

- John Spencer, County Durham & Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority
- Peter Carlin-Page, Alcohol and Substance Misuse Co-ordinator, Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust
- Libby Ranzetta, lead researcher

· The north-east has more binge drinkers than any other region of the country ? with around 1 in 3 men (29%) and 1 in 6 women (17%) regularly downing double the alcohol units advised by medical experts (which are 3-4 units a day for men and 2-3 units a day for women). (ONS 2001)

· The proportion of binge drinkers recorded across the whole of England is 1 in 5 men and 1 in 10 women.

· People in the region drink more per capita than in any other region in England, Wales and Scotland ? an average of 14.8 units per week compared to the UK average of 11.9 units.

· Alcohol Concern is the national agency working to reduce alcohol related harm in society. We campaign for action on alcohol misuse, making recommendations to key policy makers and professionals. We also help develop the level and quality of alcohol services available to problem drinkers and their families.

Date: 12 November 2004