Hundreds of minors in North treated for drink and drug addiction

More than 400 under-18s are treated for alcoholism and drug addiction in the North each year, it was revealed today.

The majority of the teenagers receiving hospital care have a drink problem, according to the North's Department of Health.

Meanwhile police caught 1,200 under age drinkers in the region last year, the youngest being only ten. In those operations 24,000 items of alcohol were seized.

The extent of the drinking culture among the young was highlighted at the launch of a new hard hitting advertising campaign.

The TV ads and accompanying leaflet urge parents to talk to their children about the serious consequences of underage drinking.

“Alcohol and minors don’t mix and the results of teenagers drinking alcohol are often disastrous,” Justice minister Paul Goggins said at the event at Belfast Castle.

“The focus of this campaign is to encourage parents to talk to their children to educate and inform them about the issues of alcohol and help promote responsible attitudes to drinking.

“Over 50 per cent of teenagers tell us that they have purchased their own alcohol.

“This campaign is part of a wider programme of initiatives to address issues such as access to alcohol by young people with the PSNI undertaking increased enforcement activity over the summer months.

“Working in partnership with all the relevant agencies and parents will help minimise the harm caused by underage drinking – protecting our young people and our community.”

A total of 3,700 people are treated for long term alcohol and drug addiction problems in Northern Ireland each year. Of those, 11 per cent (407) are under 18.

The multi-agency advertising campaign was developed and supported by the Police Service, the Northern Ireland Office, the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Public Health Agency and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Welcoming the initiative, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: “Alcohol misuse is one of the biggest public health issues facing Northern Ireland. Our children and young people are particularly at risk, as they are far more vulnerable than adults to suffering physical, emotional and social harm from their own and from other people’s drinking.

“I believe this new campaign will help to empower parents and young people, to make healthy and informed decisions about alcohol.”

The minister urged parents not to let their children drink – even limited volumes – before they were 18.

“Some parents may feel that introducing their children to alcohol in a controlled environment will help them to develop a responsible attitude to alcohol,” he said.

“However, the evidence is clear – an alcohol free childhood is the healthiest and best option. In fact, research has shown that the earlier a child starts drinking alcohol, the greater the risk of them having alcohol-related problems in later life.”

Outlining the negative impact the problem can have within the community, Policing Board Chairman, Barry Gilligan, said: “Underage drinking is the biggest issue of policing concern within our communities and it is often associated with instances of antisocial behaviour, criminal damage and assault, all of which contribute to crime and the fear of crime. One in 10 young people who have drunk alcohol have ended up in trouble with the police.

“In supporting this campaign we want to make parents think about the wide ranging risks and impact that alcohol can have on their children both now and in the future.”

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “We want this campaign to challenge parents to think twice about the serious consequences underage drinking can have.

“The consequences are severe to those young people who become victims of crime, incur serious injuries as a result of having drunk too much, or commit crime fuelled by alcohol, and to those others who do serious and life-threatening damage to their own health over the long term.

“Parents often underestimate how much influence they have on their children and hopefully this campaign will give them an opportunity to establish boundaries around alcohol.”