Alcohol and Drugs

Social attitudes and political and legal responses to the consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs make substance abuse one of the most complex public health issues.

Substance abuse has a major impact on individuals, families, and communities. The effects of substance abuse are cumulative, significantly contributing to costly social, physical, mental, and public health problems. These problems include Teenage Pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, STDs, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Motor Vehicle Crashes, Physical Fights, Crime, Homicide and Suicide.

ALCOHOL

According to Alcohol Change UK:

Alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49 year-olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages; and in England, there are an estimated 586,780 dependent drinkers, of whom 82% are not accessing treatment.

The Chief Medical Officers (CMO) guideline for both men and women states that:

  • To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis 
  • If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it's best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days 
  • If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days a week. 

This is one unit of alcohol...

You can use the LEPH approach and resources to help someone that you are concerned about relating to alcohol consumption. Contacting a local support organisation or an outreach service, could potentially provide the support they need.

DRUGS

The UK is among the countries in Europe most affected by drugs and demand for them across the population is too high, over three million adults reported using drugs in England and Wales in the last year and one in three 15-year-olds said they took drugs in 2018. The government have recently published a 10-year plan to cut crime and save lives by reducing the supply and demand for drugs and delivering a high-quality treatment and recovery system. To view the report click on this link:

UK 10 Year Drug Strategy

The social and economic cost of drug supply in England and Wales is estimated to be £10.7 billion a year – just over half of which (£6 billion) is attributed to drug-related acquisitive crime (e.g. burglary, robbery, shoplifting). Drug-related and drug-enabled activities are key drivers of both new and traditional crime: the possession of illicit substances; the crimes committed to fund drug dependence; the production and supply of harmful substances perpetrated by serious and organised criminals alongside drug market violence associated with human trafficking and modern slavery. The police therefore have been asked to play a crucial role, enforcing the law and offering support to problem drug users.

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

Do you mind if I ask you a question about alcohol?

  • This question may be promoted from some verbal or visual prompts i.e. the person has stated that they have a hangover or there is evidence of drinking in the home etc

How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

  • If the answer given indicates around 4 or more times a week you may wish to consider asking how many drinks do they have on each of these occasions, explain that unit measures can be quite confusing and offer to explain a simple unit measurement guide.
  • The principle behind understanding units and applying these to the guideline is important. Essentially, the greater the dose consumed, the greater the chance of unwanted effects.

This is one unit...

The Chief Medical Officers (CMO) guideline for both men and women states that:

  • To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis 
  • If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it's best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days 
  • If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days a week. 

Healthcare professionals are advised to use the questions within the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT C)

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT C) 

Assist

State some of many benefits to reducing alcohol intake

  • Save Money 
  • Improved relationships
  • Reduce calorie intake/lose weight
  • Improved fertility if you are trying for a baby
  • Improved sleep
  • Reduced risk of injury
  • Fewer hangovers
  • More alert and higher performing at work
  • Reduced risk of high blood presure
  • Reduced risk of cancer
  • Reduced risk of liver disease

Act

ALCOHOL

NATIONAL SUPPORT

Do you think you would benefit from some further support to reduce your drinking to 'lower risk' levels?

  • Speak to your GP, a loved one or call Drinkline 0300 1231110 (Mon-Fri 9am - 8pm, weekends 11am - 4pm). The Drinkline service provides free, confidential, accurate and consistent information and advice to callers who are concerned about their own or someone else`s drinking regardless of the caller`s age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or spirituality.

  • Download the drinks tracker from Drink less - Better Health which makes it easy to keep an eye on the booze and take control with daily tips and feedback available on itunes or google play

  • Get further information from NHS Choices www.nhs.uk

SELF CARE 

Further tips on cutting down

Make a plan
Before you start drinking, set a limit on how much you're going to drink.

Set a budget
Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol.

Let them know
If you let your friends and family know you're cutting down and it's important to you, you could get support from them.

Take it a day at a time
Cut back a little each day. That way, every day you do is a success.

Make it a smaller one
You can still enjoy a drink, but go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer instead of pints, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one.

Have a lower-strength drink
Cut down the alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength (ABV in %). You'll find this information on the bottle.

Stay hydrated
Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or a soft drink.

Take a break
Have several drink-free days each week.  

DRUGS

NATIONAL SUPPORT

Call FRANK FRANK is a national drug information service with factfiles and FAQs.

Tel: 0300 1236600 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or Text 82111 

Narcotics Anonymous  - A non-profit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a problem. They are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only ONE requirement for membership, the desire to stop using.

Tel: 0300 9991212 (10.00am to midnight)  

Support Services - Children and Young People

Children and Young People can contact the 'The Mix which is a leading support service that can help young people to take on any challenge they are facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. 

Local Support and Contact Details