The latest alcohol statistics report (Health & Social Care Information Centre, 2011) that in England, in 2009, 69% of men and 55% of women (aged 16 and over) consumed an alcoholic drink on at least one day in the previous week with 10% of men and 6% of women drinking alcohol on every day in the previous week. The proportions of men and women exceeding government recommended drinking limits (4+ units daily for men/3+ units daily for women) were 37% and 29%. With 20% of men drinking 8+ units and 13% of women drinking 6+ units.
Weekly government guidelines set limits for men at 21 units weekly and 14 units for women. At these limits 26% of men were drinking more than 21 units in an average week. 18% of women were drinking more than 14 units in an average week. For schoolchildren the statistics show that 18% of secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15 were currently drinking alcohol compared with 26% in 2001.
The prevalence of hazardous drinking among men and women in England, in 2007. Stood at 33% of men and 16% of women (24% of adults). With 6% of men and 2% of women drinking in a harmful pattern which is likely to damage their health. For adults aged 16 to 74, 9% of men and 4% of women showed some signs of alcohol dependence. The prevalence of alcohol dependence was slightly lower for men than it was in 2000 (11.5%) but there was no significant change for women between 2000 and 2007.
Alcohol Related Admissions Have Increased
Alcohol-related admissions to hospital have increased during the past 10 years. In 2009/10, there were 1,057,000 alcohol related admissions (63% men), which was an increase of 12% on the 2008/09 figure (945,500). More than twice as many as in 2002/03 (510,800). Alcohol related admissions per 100,000 of the population varied across Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) showing a rate of 2,406 and 2,295 admissions per 100,000 population in North East England SHA and North West England SHA respectively, to 1,223 admissions per 100,000 population in South Central England SHA.
Detox Medications
An indirect indicator of the scale of alcohol dependence is prescriptions for drugs used in the treatment of dependence. In 2010, there were 160,181 prescription items for drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependency prescribed in primary care settings or NHS hospitals and dispensed in the community. Which was an increase of 6% from 2009 (150,445) and an increase of 56% from 2003 (102,741).
The cost of these prescription items was £2.41 million in 2010, which was an increase of 1.4% from 2009 (£2.38 million) and an increase of 40% from 2003 (£1.72 million). There were variations in prescriptions across SHAs. Overall, in 2010, 290 prescription items per 100,000 population were dispensed for alcohol dependency. There were 515 and 410 items per 100,000 population in North West England SHA and North East England SHA respectively. In comparison with 130 items per 100,000 population in London SHA.
Mortality rates for alcohol-related deaths decreased from 6,769 in 2008 to 6,584 in 2009. However showed an increase of 20% from 5,477 in 2001. Of the 6,584 alcohol- related deaths in 2009, the majority (4,154) died from alcoholic liver disease. It is estimated that the cost of alcohol related harm to the NHS is £2.7 billion in 2006/07 prices.
Source:
The Health and Social Care Information Centre. (2011). Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2011. www.ic.nhs.uk
The main source of drinking prevalence data is the General Lifestyle Survey (GLF). Formerly known as the General Household Survey (GHS) and published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This national survey questions adults aged 16 and over living in private households in Great Britain.
See our page on compulsive drinking in general.
Call the Haynes Clinic on 01462 851414
