Under-18 alcoholic numbers treble in three years

THE number of underage drinkers treated for alcohol addiction in two health boards has more than trebled in three years, according to new reports.

Figures for the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) and Southern Health Board (SHB) also show the total number of people receiving treatment for alcohol was more than twice that for all other drugs, illegal and legal combined.

As many as 102 people under the age of 18 received treatment for alcohol problems in 2002 compared to 31 in 2000. The total number of people seeking help for alcohol jumped from 1,729 in 2000 to 2,658 in 2002 a rise of 54%.

The reports, published by the Drug Misuse Research Division of the Health Research Board (HRB), underline the "chronic" level of alcohol addiction.

Statistics for the SEHB covering Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Tipperary south and Carlow show:

Alcohol accounted for over 70% of all people treated for substance abuse.

Almost 60% of people were seeking help for the first time, with 40% having been previously treated.

The number of underage drinkers jumped from 23 in 2000 to 78 in 2002.

SHB covering Cork and Kerry figures show:

Alcohol accounted for almost two-thirds of all treatment cases.

Almost 60% sought help for the first time.

The number of underage drinkers rose from eight in 2000 to 24 in 2002.

In both health boards some 20% of people reported using at least one other drug, mainly cannabis.

The report said: "In both areas, 40% of those reporting problem alcohol use were treated previously, indicating that this is a chronic health problem."

Labour party health spokesperson Liz McManus said: "We are now one of the great drinkers of Europe, particularly in relation to binge drinking.

"We are storing up huge problems for the future if this continues. People are going into early middle age with liver damage or other alcohol-related problems. We need to get it under control."

The report also noted an increase in the proportion of new female cases in both health boards.

The report said part of the overall increase was due to greater availability of services. The figures do not include details from in-patient psychiatric services.