Profile of alcohol and health in Wales published

A new profile providing a detailed look at the impact of alcohol on health in Wales has been produced by the Wales Centre for Health with the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS). It contains information taken from several data sources and includes statistics on subjects including underage drinking, alcohol-related deaths, drinking during pregnancy, binge drinking and hospital admissions related to alcohol.

Key results include the finding that 1,000 people die from causes attributed to alcohol in Wales each year, with alcohol being a factor in more than four per cent of male deaths. The report reveals that in a comparison with 40 other countries, Wales has the highest number of 13-year-olds who say they have been drunk at least twice - 27% of boys and 26% of girls.

It also reveals that people living in deprived areas of Wales are three times more likely to die of a cause related to alcohol than those living in the least deprived areas. Other statistics included in the report show that each year in Wales, an average of 8,400 males and 4,500 of females are admitted to hospital due to alcohol, amounting to 1.5% of all hospital admissions.

Hospital admissions related to alcohol also vary between local authority areas, with Blaenau Gwent consistently showing the highest number of such admissions. Patterns of drinking among Welsh adults and statistics on alcohol-related crime can also be found in the 56-page report.  The main author of the report, Andrea Gartner of the Wales Centre for Health, said:

This is the first time that alcohol-attributable indicators have been calculated and analysed for Wales, considering conditions which are either entirely or in part attributable to alcohol.

Judith Greenacre, Director of Health Intelligence, added:

It is clear that the effect of alcohol presents a major public health challenge for Wales and the rest of the UK. Alcohol misuse can bring significant harm to individuals, families and communities. This report identifies areas that will need to be monitored in future and will help contribute towards the new 10-year strategy launched by the Welsh Assembly Government to tackle all substance misuse, including alcohol.

Further information

• Download A profile of alcohol and health in Wales
• More information on alcohol and health in Wales at NPHS here
• Within Wales, the 10 year Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) substance misuse strategy launched November 2008 includes the misuse of alcohol alongside the misuse of illegal drugs. This is different from the situation in England where illegal drugs are dealt with by a separate strategy.
• Within Wales, Community Safety Partnerships now have responsibility for the delivery of the WAG strategy. This focuses attention on the community safety and crime and disorder aspects of alcohol misuse.
• The NPHS Vulnerable Groups Team took the lead role in the development of an Alcohol Treatment Framework published by the Welsh Assembly Government in June 2008.
• Local Public Health Teams have a strategy that includes activities to address the health specific aspects of alcohol misuse.

Comments

[Seven]

Gosh, I wish I would have had that infroimaton earlier!