Mike Hedges AM supports Alcohol awareness week

Mike Hedges AM
Assembly Member for Swansea East
Aelod y Cynulliad dros Ddwyrain Abertawe

PRESS RELEASE

Mike Hedges AM supports Alcohol awareness week
People in Wales are still drinking too much alcohol – with nearly one in five adults drinking above the recommended guidelines, leading to serious impacts on their health, Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said today.

Mike Hedges AM said…. I agree and support Alcohol Awareness Week whole heartedly. I have met families who have gone through very difficult situations because one family member has been drinking too heavily and I have met medical staff who have to deal with people under the influence of drink in local A&E Depts. The effects of drinking too much can be serious both to the drinker, families and wider society. I would urge people as we go into the festive period not to over indulge.

If you or you feel a family member or friend is drinking too much – please seek help and support from one of the many agencies who can provide advice and guidance’

The harm to people’s health can occur from either the repeated risk of acute alcohol-related accidents or from long-term diseases. These could include various cancers, strokes, heart disease, liver disease, and brain damage, which can take up to twenty years to develop despite drinking for years without apparent harm.

In 2017 there were 540 alcohol-related deaths in Wales, an increase of 7.1% on the previous year – a number the Welsh Government is determined to reduce.

There are a number of changes a person can make to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm. Alcohol Concern Cymru’s website DrinkWiseWales.org.uk contains a variety of tools and tips to help people continue to enjoy alcohol, whilst reducing their risk.

The Welsh Government is also taking action to reduce alcohol consumption by:
• Providing high-quality treatment through basic harm minimisation and other advice; to detoxification, residential care and relapse prevention;
• Putting in place a dedicated helpline – Dan 24/7 is a free and bilingual telephone drugs helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information or help relating to drugs or alcohol. In 2017/18 there were 5,151 calls to DAN 24/7, a 26% increase on 2016/17. Traffic to the website has also increased by 92% during the same timeframe.
This has led to a number of successes:
• The number of individuals admitted to hospital for an alcohol specific condition has fallen by 8.8% over the last 5 years. Hospital admissions for alcohol specific conditions involving young people (under 25) has fallen by 25.5%over the last five years to 953 admissions in 2017-18;
• Hospital admissions for foetuses and new-borns affected by maternal use of, or withdrawal from, alcohol or other drugs of addiction have remained very stable over recent years. There have been 64 admissions for foetuses and new-borns affected by maternal use of, or withdrawal from, alcohol or other drugs of addiction in 2017-18, the lowest in the last decade.
Earlier this year, the National Assembly approved the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018, which provides a legislative basis for addressing the longstanding and specific health concerns around the effects of excess alcohol consumption — to improve and protect the health of the population of Wales.