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‘We realise we’re only
scratching the surface of
need... and whenever we
visit other health and
social care agencies, or
deliver training, we
generate more referrals.’
8 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| November 2012
Cover story |
Frontline alcohol services
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
Rising demand, increasing
bureaucracy and a client group
with complex needs are just
some of the challenges facing
alcohol services.
Hazel Jordan
offers a frontline perspective
Ste
A
s area manager for Islington Community Alcohol Service I’m aware
that, despite the hard work of the team, we are struggling to meet
the levels of demand. We feel ‘rushed off our feet’ and know that
other alcohol services are in the same position. We realise we’re only
scratching the surface of need in Islington and whenever we visit
other health and social care agencies, or deliver training, we generate more
referrals – while NICE estimates that only 6 per cent of harmful and dependent
drinkers access services, the estimate for Islington is 10 per cent.
Following the introduction of the alcohol strategy and increased awareness of
alcohol harm, alcohol services are expected to extend their range of activities. We
now offer preventative work and brief interventions to hazardous and harmful
drinkers, as well as partnership working with probation. While we wholeheartedly
support this strategic direction we need increased capacity to put it into practice,
and at a local level we receive many requests to extend our activities further, such
as working to reduce anti-social behaviour among street drinkers. There’s so much
more we could do, but we don’t have the capacity to respond.
We also expect demand to continue to rise. Between 2001 and 2009 there was
an increase in consumption levels and a 25 per cent increase in liver disease (37 per
cent of which was alcohol related). While consumption seems to have reached a
plateau, we expect referrals to alcohol services to increase, as people often
approach services at a late stage of problematic drinking. The increase in
prevention and early intervention work will also generate increased referrals to
specialist treatment services, and is already doing so locally.
*****
It’s estimated that alcohol harm costs society £21bn per year.
It’s the third biggest
lifestyle risk factor for disease in the UK and 44 per cent of violent crimes involve
alcohol, yet alcohol services have been chronically underfunded for many years. In
order to reduce alcohol harm, in line with the alcohol strategy, investment is
desperately needed. At this crucial point, we are extremely concerned that there is
a serious risk to funding for alcohol services as a result of disinvestment from local
NHS and local authority budgets and the transfer of funds to Public Health
England, lifting the ring fence for drug and alcohol treatment funding. It’s essential
that funding for alcohol services is protected.
A high proportion of our clients have complex and multiple needs including
poor levels of physical and mental health, traumatic personal histories,
homelessness or insecure housing, unemployment, poverty, domestic violence,
involvement with the criminal justice system and child safeguarding issues. There
are also particular groups who need specialised treatment, such as older people
with dementia, parents whose children may be at risk of harm and groups who