Public Health England (PHE) have released alcohol treatment figures in England for 2015-2016 within a combined report of drug and alcohol treatment data.
The reports states 85,035 individuals started alcohol treatment in 2015-16, of these 59,873 cited alcohol as their only problematic substance. The overall number of individuals in treatment for alcohol fell by 4% compared to 2014-15, with the numbers for alcohol only decreasing by 5%.
The PHE report does not comment on the recent drop in figures, but states they have 'remained relatively stable' since the data was first submitted in 2009.
Consumption trends or service changes?
Whether alcohol treatment figures will continue to fall in future years may well depend on the impact of cuts and recommissioning of services. Public Health budgets, which fund drug and alcohol treatment, are facing significant cuts but there will be wide variation in how local areas respond.
Suggestions that the falls in treatment numbers could be reflective of a recent period of overall declining consumption are questionable given that consumption has not actually declined amongst harmful and dependent drinkers, according to recent APMS figures. There has however been a changing age profile amongst those receiving alcohol treatment, with an increasing proportion of older adults as identified last year.
Alcohol only clients though continued to have the highest rates of successful treatment exists compared to other substances, with just under two thirds (62%) completing treatment successfully, continuing the small upward trend. Figures remained broadly consistent across other measures.
See here for the full PHE report [pdf] and data tables [xls].
See here for a round up of recent alcohol treatment commissioning guidance and resources.
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