Experts unsurprised by level of alcohol abuse

In response to figures on alcohol abuse released this week, Dr Peter Rice, a leading consultant psychiatrist with the NHS Tayside Alcohol Problem Service, said he is not surprised as alcohol-related problems were having a detrimental effect on the lives of too many people across Tayside and Scotland.

According to the newly released figures by the Information Statistics Division of the NHS in Scotland, alcohol related conditions accounted for more than 2000 hospital discharges in Tayside in 2004/05.

The statistics have revealed that there were more than 530 cases of acute intoxication recorded at the region’s hospital during the course of the year and a further 243 individuals presented with signs of alcohol dependence.

It appears that Cirrhosis of the liver, an acute condition largely brought about by alcohol abuse, accounted for 81 discharges while a further 260 people attended with unspecified forms of alcoholic liver disease.

Another 49 patients were seen by medics in Tayside suffering from the toxic effects of alcohol following episodes in which they had intentionally poisoned themselves with drink.

Bad though they are, many believe the statistics do not give a full picture of the burden alcohol misuse places on the NHS in Tayside, as they do not account for cases in which a person appears at a hospital with a drink-related condition and is allowed home after treatment.

Neither does it take into account psychiatric patients who receive specialist care at alcohol treatment centres.

According to Dr Rice the alarming situation has come about due to changes in social factors over recent years and relaxed licensing laws.

He says NHS Tayside are tackling the problem in a range of different ways and had recently introduced two liaison nurses with specific responsibility for the care of those with alcohol-related conditions.

He calls for local authorities to play their part in ensuring new licensing legislation is delivered responsibly.