Alcohol report - Time to act on problem drinking

THE most alarming part of the Health Research Board’s report on treated problem alcohol use is the word “treated”.

There were officially almost 8,000 cases of problem drinking treated last year, although the true figure is higher because not all treatment centres and services provided data. Multiply that figure by a modest 10 to reflect the family members, friends, colleagues and others who are affected by one person’s alcohol abuse and you instantly create a group of 80,000 victims.

They deserve recognition. According to the report, half of the problem drinkers treated for the first time last year had been drinking for at least 19 years before seeking help.