‘While it is encouraging to hear that people who have been drinking more during lockdown are planning to take action to reduce their intake,’ said Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, ‘it can be hard to change habits once they are established. In our survey, stress was identified as a key factor for many and, unfortunately, these stresses aren’t necessarily going to go away with the easing of lockdown restrictions. Many people are worrying about going back to work, their children returning to school, or concerned about using public transport. Some may not have a job to return to, creating additional uncertainty at an already difficult time.
‘It can be tempting to have a drink to ‘take the edge off’ our worries, but alcohol is a depressant that can increase our anxiety and disrupt our sleep, making it more difficult to deal with stress. Our alcohol use may become part of the problem, taking a toll on our mental and physical health and damaging our relationships.
‘We need to make sure that people can get ready access to the help they need to address patterns of drinking which may place them at increased risk of illness - including of coronavirus complications – and put more pressure on our health services.
‘Alcohol services, which were already hard-pressed before this crisis, may experience even greater demand after it.
‘Alongside adequate service provision, it is crucial that our national recovery effort builds on the good work we have started in addressing Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol. By addressing how readily available alcohol is and how heavily it is
Statistics
• In the financial year 2019 to 2020 there were 35,781 alcohol-related hospital admissions (stays) in general acute hospitals in Scotland.
• These 35,781 admissions to general acute hospitals relate to 23,685 patients, some of whom had multiple admissions to hospital. Around half of these patients (11,901) were admitted for the first time for alcohol- related conditions.
• Considering the long term trend since 1981 to 1982, there was a steep and sustained increase in general acute alcohol-related hospital admissions until the financial year 2007 to 2008 reaching a rate of 855.4 admissions per 100,000 population. Since then, numbers have fallen. This financial year’s rate was 666.6 per 100,000 population. ISD Scotland
marketed we can improve the lives of thousands of Scots by preventing problems developing in the first place.’
The problem of excessive alcohol use isn’t simply confined to inner city areas in Scotland. Orkney Alcohol & Drugs Partnership was just one of 3,000 community groups and organisations across the United Kingdome which took part in the recent Alcohol Awareness Week.
The initiative, which is led by Alcohol Change UK, aims to raise awareness of the link between alcohol and mental health, to speak out about the issues and the stigma surrounding them and, encourage anyone who is struggling to seek the support they deserve.
‘Orkney has traditionally been one of the areas in Scotland with a higher- than-average level of problematic alcohol use,’ says Matthew Thomas from Orkney Alcohol & Drugs Partnership. ‘Due to the stress of the pandemic, we are seeing a nationwide increase in alcohol consumption over and above the recommended healthy levels of drinking of fourteen units per week. This, coupled with the long, dark Orkney winter, could lead to more people within our community experiencing problematic alcohol use and needing to seek support.’
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, which provides support for anyone concerned about someone else’s drinking or drug use, has witnessed the fallout from the increasing numbers on a daily basis. Since March the organisation has experienced unprecedented numbers of calls to its helpline, with people seeking support for themselves and their loved ones.
Alison Douglas
‘While it is encouraging to hear that people who have been drinking more during lockdown are planning to take action to reduce their intake it can be hard to change habits once they are established’
‘The number of people contacting the Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs Helpline during lockdown has been twice the level for the same period last year (mid-March to mid- July),’ says Justina Murray, chief executive of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs. ‘This includes a four-fold increase in people contacting us with concerns about their own substance use, as well as a 56 per cent increase in contact from family members concerned about others. Lockdown has brought tremendous pressures on families affected by their loved ones drinking, with alcohol consumption increasing, consumption within the home increasing, and many of the usual support mechanisms not available to families during this period.’
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