Government urged to ‘treat alcohol as a drug’

THE coordinators of the regional drug task forces all agree that alcohol has to be included in the Government’s National Drug Strategy.

“Alcohol is the main issue here. The number of people seeking treatment for alcohol outweighs illegal drugs three-to-one,” said Tony Barden, interim coordinator of the South Eastern Regional Drug Task Force (RDTF).

“It’s very unlikely that even those seeking help for drugs are not also abusing alcohol,” said Mr Barden.