Dependency on alcohol is on the rise
11,250 people in Hampshire are believed to be dependent on alcohol
Over 250,000 people consume more than 14 units per week of alcohol in Hampshire, and in places like Rushmoor, Havant and Gosport, the risk of death is higher than in other areas, new data revealed.
It is estimated every year that the social and economic costs of alcohol-related harm amount to £21.5bn. In comparison, harm from illicit drug use costs £19.3bn.
New data revealed that the consumption and dependency of alcohol in Hampshire residents have increased in the last year.
According to the figures, 257,500 residents over 16 years old drink more than 14 units of alcohol in a week. Of those, 11,250 are estimated to be dependent on alcohol.
Admissions for alcohol-related conditions are higher in Hampshire than in England. Alcohol-related deaths are higher in places like Rushmoore, Havant and Gosport.
To tackle the problem, Hampshire County Council work alongside Inclusion Recovery Hampshire, Parent Support Link and ‘Catch 22’, which provides support and help to children and young people under 25 who are affected by substance misuse.
During the Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Board, Becky, a user of the ‘Catch 22’ service, described how supportive and life-changing the service was for her and how it impacted her life, giving her a purpose.
Becky said: “I used substances from the age of 15. When I first got a ‘Catch-22’ worker, I thought to myself, maybe there is another way. I completely accepted that I was a drug user. I stole things; I took things; I ruined my family’s life and my own in the process.
“My worker pushed for me. She believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. She helped me get into the rehab pathways for inclusion. I went into treatment for three months. I went to the Bournemouth Providence projects, and from that moment, I haven’t used a drink or used drugs.
“Coming out, it was all very scary. Volunteering for inclusion completely changed my life; it gave me a purpose in life. I thought I was going to be this drug user who tears through my family’s home, taking things to sell and all of that stuff.
From that, from going into treatment and working on myself and my recovery, I can now say, “I’m nearly three years clean and sober”.
“I work within Catch 22. There was an apprenticeship scheme, and it completely changed my life. Today, I help people who are like me, and I’m that person who believes in them when they don’t believe in themselves.
“I just love my job. I love that my work pushes me to do this because it has changed my life, and I’m so grateful for all the services.”
To continue work to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug harm, the county council works closely with schools to prevent the usage at an early age, developing campaigns such as the ‘Rethink your drink’, which includes an online quiz to find out “if you are drinking too much”.
HCC officers also indicate that extra government funding will allow the organisation to Increase treatment numbers by 20% by 2024/25, improve continuity of care between prison and community treatment, increase access to residential rehab, and reduce drug-related deaths.
In Hampshire, an estimated 4,023 people are using illicit opiates or crack cocaine. Of those, 78 per cent are male, and the highest use rates are among 25–34-year-olds.