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%.