Alcohol Help

Primary Care Trusts’ (PCTs) investment into alcohol prevention and treatment services can reduce the high cost of treating alcohol-related ill-health, according to a new report on alcohol services published today by the National Audit Office. Increased funding is one of several measures recommended by the NAO, such as better assessment of local needs, structured planning and streamlined commissioning, all necessary if the Department of Health wants to reduce the costs of alcohol misuse.

Alcohol Concern welcomed the report’s emphasis on the Department’s role in helping PCTs improve their alcohol policies and hopes its recommendations will be implemented as a matter of urgency.

This critical report confirms findings of Alcohol Concern’s report earlier this year, Poor Relation, which found that people with alcohol problems were often let down by patchy provision of local services. The NAO report also found that many PCTs do not assess the level of alcohol harm and its effects on health in their area or know exactly how much they are spending on alcohol treatment.

Commenting on the report today, Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern said: “The report confirms that there are wide discrepancies between waiting times and access to treatment between different localities in England. People with alcohol problems still face a postcode lottery of access to alcohol services.”

He added: “There is a clear case for urgent improvement to treatment services, if we want to see an end to spiralling costs of alcohol misuse to the NHS. To this end, we are calling for a sufficient and ring-fenced funding for alcohol treatment in each locality, a centrally established level of access and mandatory reporting of treatment and waiting times by PCTs."

Alcohol Concern

Ascot House, Oldham
For people with substance misuse problems

About us:

Ascot House offers a range of services for people with substance misuse problems including residential rehabilitation, a full resettlement service, after care by arrangement and support for those at risk of their losing their tenancies because of their substance misuse problems.

We offer a group programme, one-to-one keyworking sessions, complementary therapies and links into employment and education.

Ascot House also manages a series of homes for small groups of people who have achieved a level of abstinence and stability in a rehabilitation programme either in residential care or in the community.

People can refer themselves to this service or can be referred by a professional.

Contact Details:

Turning Point Ascot House
4 Edward Street
Werneth
Oldham
Lancashire
OL9 7QP

Telephone: 0161 624 8585

People in Nottinghamshire know that excessive drinking could seriously affect their long-term health, but continue to drink more than they should, shows a recent survey.

Responding to the Home Office initiative, ‘Not in My Neighbourhood Week’, seven public surveys were held across the county between 11-17 October by the Nottinghamshire County Drug and Alcohol Action Team, to determine the extent of the knowledge local people have around alcohol, units and the impacts that it has on crime, health, families, young people and the wider community.

The face-to-face surveys were held in West Bridgford, Sutton in Ashfield, Mansfield, Arnold, Newark, Retford and Beeston. Amongst the key findings are:

* Only 31 per cent correctly identified the maximum number of recommended alcohol units a person should have on a daily basis (two-three for women; and three-four for men), and yet very few knew what an alcohol unit actually was. Some said it was half a glass of wine, others said it was two glasses (FACT: One Unit is half a 175ml glass of wine with an alcohol content of 12%)

* 95 per cent agreed that excessive drinking could seriously affect their long-term health and although 77 per cent correctly identified that the term binge drinking was considered to be drinking more than double the recommended daily alcohol unit limit, many still admitted to drinking over the recommended daily allowance. (FACT: there are 10 million people in the UK who drink double the recommended daily alcohol unit limit)

* Only 16 per cent knew the financial cost to the UK of alcohol-related crime (FACT: £7.3bn)

The survey also asked people to say ‘true or false’ to some common beliefs/misconceptions:

* "I can sober up quickly if I need to, with a cold shower/fresh air/hot coffee": The answer is FALSE, but 32% of respondents believed this to be true.

* "Your body develops a tolerance to alcohol if you drink a lot regularly, so you can safely drink more": The answer is FALSE, but 37% believed this to be true (FACT: Tolerance is a warning sign that your body has started to be affected by alcohol)

* "Alcohol makes sex better", 89% correctly stated FALSE - However, with close to 5,000 teenage pregnancies of 15 to 17 year olds across Nottinghamshire between 1998 to 2006, the role alcohol plays in this statistic cannot be accurately stated, but the link between the alcohol misuse and unprotected sex is an obvious one when your decision-making ability is affected when ‘drunk’.

The DAAT will use the results to pin point future awareness campaigns in localities, targeting young people, parents and families.

John Taylor, Strategic lead for Alcohol for the DAAT says:

"The key issue that we’ve picked up from this exercise is the lack of knowledge around ‘alcohol units’. Many people knew how many units they are recommended not to exceed on a daily basis, but not many knew what a unit actually was. The clear message for us and the Government is to sharpen up this aspect of public information that says something that people can understand and follow: One Unit is a half pint of standard beer and so on. We are not preaching that people shouldn’t drink, but to drink responsibility, not only for themselves but for their families and for their communities"

Andy Wragg, Community and Partnerships Manager for the DAAT says:

"Every month, Nottinghamshire hospitals see at least one death caused by alcohol, and the average age is falling - many are in their early to mid 20’s, whose drinking career began as young as thirteen. We all have responsibilities, so the announcement this week to make ‘drug & alcohol’ education in our schools mandatory as part of the PSHE is a tremendous step forward."

There were no specific differences of opinion expressed from one district to another.

Home Office

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that a genetic mutation in worms could further understanding of alcoholism in humans.

The work follows a study carried out by Oregon Health and Science University, which suggested a link between a gene mutation in mice and tolerance to alcohol. Researchers at Liverpool have investigated this in worms, looking specifically at the role the gene plays in communication between cells in the nervous system.

This gene specifies the ways in which amino acids arrange themselves into a protein called UNC-18 – or Munc18-1 in humans, an essential component of the nervous system. Researchers found that a naturally occurring change in this gene can result in a change in the nature of one of the amino acids, which then alters communication between cells in the nervous system. As a result of these changes the nervous system becomes less sensitive to the effects of alcohol, allowing the body to consume more.

Professor Bob Burgoyne, Head of the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences, explains: “Alcohol consumption can affect the nervous system in a number of ways. Low concentrations of alcohol can make the body more alert, but high concentrations can also reduce its activity, resulting in motor dysfunction and a lack of coordination. Some people, however, are more susceptible to these effects than others, but it has never been fully understood why this is.

“We used the nematode worm as a model to look at the role genes play in alcohol tolerance because all of the worm’s genome has been characterised and we can therefore identify its genes easily. The gene we looked at corresponds to a gene in humans that performs the same function in the nervous system. Mutations in genes can occur naturally without any known cause and will persist if they are not particularly harmful.”

Dr Jeff Barclay, co-author of the research, added: “We investigated alterations in amino acids in two genetically identical worms. One carried a mutation that was exactly the same as the genetic change our American colleagues found in mice and the other carried a different change within the same gene. Both these mutations altered the way communicate occurs between cells in the nervous system. The mutations reduce the negative behavioural effects of alcohol and so more can be consumed before the body starts to react badly to it.

“Now that we have shown the link between the gene and alcohol tolerance in worms, it is possible to search the human gene to see if there are any spontaneous changes that could help identify individuals with a predisposition to alcoholism.”

University of Liverpool. Gene Mutation In Worms Key To Alcohol Tolerance.

Alcohol Help for addiction - stereotypes about alcohol hurt everyone

Who do you think of when you hear the words ‘alcohol addiction’? The local GP, who juggles a busy career with the demands of motherhood? The career banker, who appears to thrive and prosper on the ethos of ‘work hard, play hard’? The proprietor of a local building firm, who has built a thriving family business on sheer graft and a reputation for honesty and reliability?

The simple fact is that alcoholism can affect anyone, regardless of educational background, social class or nationality.

According to Sue Allchurch, research director at Linwood Group, few of the clients that seek help at the company’s treatment centres fit the ‘normal’ stereotype of an alcoholic.

"The people that we help are not Special Brew-swigging vagrants who spend their days and nights on a park bench. They’re people of every age and from every possible social demographic - and to assume otherwise is the most unhelpful attitude possible," she says.

For a start, the ’seedy’ image of an alcoholic as someone with no willpower or desire to change their ways often deters people who are struggling with alcohol from seeking the help they so badly need and finding a suitable treatment programme.

"People still believe that alcoholism is something they should be able to control using their own willpower. Few people realise it is a disease and, once in the grip of it, it is impossible to stop without seeking help," she says.

Misconceptions about alcohol abuse can also have a negative impact on an individual’s family members and friends, their colleagues, and even their entire community. They may be reluctant to intervene and speak to a loved one about their heavy drinking if they believe they run the risk of offending them.

But by far the most damaging stereotype about alcohol problems is that those who suffer from them can’t and won’t change. Fear of failure is a major obstacle to recovery — but, in fact, alcohol treatment programmes are proven be extremely effective in many cases.

That’s why Linwood Group is calling for more education in the area of alcohol abuse. "When people better understand the truth of about alcoholism, and see that anyone can be affected, then hopefully there will be more societal pressure to open up wider access to alcohol addiction services," says Allchurch.

Linwood Manor

Drinkaware: London
Aims to reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm

About us:

Drinkaware aims to change the UK’s drinking habits for the better. We promote responsible drinking and find innovative ways to challenge the national drinking culture and tackle alcohol misuse.

An independent charity, we are supported by voluntary donations from across the drink’s industry to equip people with the knowledge they need to make decisions about how much they drink.

We also work with organisations and individuals across the UK, providing accessible information about alcohol and its effects to employers, young people, teachers, parents and community workers. Using a range of mediums, such as film, multimedia and TV, we help dispel myths and present the honest facts about alcohol.

Unless otherwise stated, a medical review of content on the Drinkaware website was undertaken by Professor Paul Wallace.
Drinkaware Grants

Drinkaware Grants are for organisations that work to tackle alcohol misuse and raise awareness of the impact it has on communities. We can provide funding for community and alcohol education work and projects that focus on developing new approaches to tackling alcohol misuse.

Drinkaware aims to increase awareness and understanding of the role of alcohol in society, enabling individuals to make informed choices about their drinking. We do this by undertaking innovative and engaging campaigning, educational and partnership work.

Our Trustees meet regularly to discuss our strategic objectives and to monitor our programmes of work. Our core outputs include:
Tactical campaigns, taking our messages to key audiences

* Development of education and information resources
* Drinkaware Grants providing project aid for local and national initiatives
* Research into consumer understanding and attitudes to alcohol

Creating awareness of

* Why and how to drink safely and responsibly
* The impact of alcohol misuse on society and on the health and well being of individuals, their families and communities.

Improving attitudes to

* Increasing the motivation for and personal responsibility to drink safely and appropriately
* The unacceptability of binge drinking and drink related disorder

Effecting change

* Effecting positive changes in behaviour related to alcohol consumption

Drinkaware is an independent UK charity that aims to change public behaviour and the national drinking culture. By providing people with practical advice and information Drinkaware aims to reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm.

Drinkaware fulfils a challenge set by Government in the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for an industry-supported fund to provide education, information and campaigning activity for consumers.

Drinkaware was established following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by UK ministers and the Portman Group. This enabled the Portman Group’s former campaigning arm – called the Drinkaware Trust – to be transformed into the new independent charity. Drinkaware is consumer-facing, while the Portman Group now focuses on industry regulation.

Who governs Drinkaware?
We are a registered charity governed by a Board of Trustees comprising of both Health professionals and Industry. The Board’s role is to ensure Governance, maintain independence and deliver the charities strategic objectives.

Who funds Drinkaware?
We are supported by voluntary donations from across the alcohol drinks industry, including producers, pub companies and retailers. The aim is to secure an annual budget of at least £5 million from as broad a base of support as possible.

Contact Details:

Drinkaware
7 - 10 Chandos Street
London
W1G 9DQ

Telephone: 020 7307 7450

Drinkaware’s new campaign on excessive drinking in the home highlights the embarrassing evidence to be found in many recycling bins

* New research shows one in six people worry about the amount they drink based on the number of drinks bottles they recycle*
* Britons now drink more frequently in the home than in pubs / bars / restaurants – nearly two days per week at home versus 1.5 days outside (on average)*
* One in four British adults regularly drink at levels that put their health at risk
* 81% of population are still unaware of recommended unit guidelines**

The Drinkaware Trust (Drinkaware) – an independent UK charity which aims to reduce alcohol harm - today launches a new public education campaign to raise consumers’ awareness of their drinking habits by highlighting how often they fill their recycling bins or visit bottle banks.

Derek Lewis, Chairman of Drinkaware, said: “Drinking in the home can lull us into a false sense of security because we simply fail to take note of the amount we consume. But the reality is that many people are unwittingly at risk from the long-term health problems associated with drinking too much alcohol.

“With this campaign, we’re encouraging everyone to use the evidence of the cans and bottles in their recycling bins to gauge whether or not they’re overdoing it. We hope this new approach to an old problem will alert many people to the risks involved with their current alcohol consumption.”

The £1 million pound campaign – entitled ‘Alcohol: how much is too much?’ – invites audiences to reflect on their own alcohol intake in relation to the government’s recommended unit guidelines. It will run in selected cities around the UK with provocative advertising on display in train stations, on bus sides and in outdoor locations.

Dr Michael Wilks, President of Standing Committee of European Doctors and who for the last 15 years has been advising on the risk of alcohol on society and the individual, says that this campaign is an important step in changing our approach towards drinking.

“There is a tipping point – if you’re regularly drinking 35-50 units a week – then you’re at risk of irreversible damage to your health and chronic disease,” said Dr Wilks.

“Our advice is simple: Stick to the Government’s recommended unit guidelines of 2-3 units a day for women and 3-4 units a day for men and you can still enjoy drinking without putting your health at risk.”

Professor Ian Gilmore, alcohol specialist and President of the Royal College of Physicians, said he supported Drinkaware’s innovative approach to tackling the issue of alcohol misuse, especially in the home. He added: “All too often, a person’s drinking gradually escalates to the point of causing long-term damage without them even being aware of it.”

Drinkaware

Do you enjoy a drink? Ninety percent of adults in the West Midlands region do - and for many of us it simply means a glass of wine with a meal or a pint with some friends in the pub. However for many others it means regularly drinking above the recommended daily limits, and this can and does lead to problems. Excessive drinking not only can have a negative impact your health, but also can affect the safety and well being of individuals and communities. These effects in turn seriously impact upon public services such as the police, hospitals, and society in general.

Local events starting 15th October in Birmingham will be taking place across the region ovear the next six-weeks. The aim of these events is to publicise the survey and raise awareness of how excessive drinking impacts negatively upon our society. For instance did you know that the West Midlands have the third highest alcohol related death rate in the country? In 2005, nearly 2,700 people died from medical conditions related to alcohol and that in the last year for every 1000 people living in the West Midlands there were ten crimes, committed attributable to the excessive consumption of alcohol.

Launching the debate, Regional Director of Public Health Dr Rashmi Shukla CBE said:

"We know that this region has a problematic relationship with alcohol and this is contributing towards some pretty scary statistics including rising numbers of people being admitted to hospital with an alcohol related illness and the numbers of people being involved in violent crimes related to excessive drinking.

The question is what we do to reduce the harmful impact that excessive drinking is having on this region? The West Midlands Big Drink Debate is an opportunity for you to tell us what should be done."

Department of Health

Study shows substance found in grapes, red wine, peanuts, prevents alcoholic fatty liver by coordinating molecules that control fat metabolism

The accumulation of fat in the liver as a result of chronic alcohol consumption could be prevented by consuming resveratrol, according to a new study with mice. The research found that resveratrol reduced the amount of fat produced in the liver of mice fed alcohol and, at the same time, increased the rate at which fat within the liver is broken down.

Chronic alcohol consumption causes fat to accumulate and can lead to liver diseases, including cirrhosis and fibrosis of the liver. It can also result in liver failure. The study points to resveratrol as a possible treatment for alcoholic fatty liver disease, and as a way to prevent the disease in those who are at risk, but have not developed it.

Resveratrol is present in grapes, peanuts, berries and in red wine. Other research with mice has suggested resveratrol may have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. There is also evidence that it has cardiovascular benefits. However, these findings have not been extended to humans.

The study, "Resveratrol alleviates alcoholic fatty liver in mice," was carried out by Joanne M. Ajmo, Xiaomei Liang, Christopher Q. Rogers, Brandi Pennock and Min You, all of the University of South Florida Health Sciences Center, Tampa. The study appears in the American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, published by The American Physiological Society.

Activates cell signalers

The study builds on previous research, which suggests that alcohol inhibits two molecules that play a role in cell signaling and the breakdown of fats in the liver: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). When alcohol inactivates AMPK and SIRT1, it allows fat to accumulate. Resveratrol does the opposite — activating AMPK and SIRT1, and helping to clear out fat.

In this study, the authors wanted to find out more about how this happens, at the molecular level. They divided mice into groups and fed all of them a low-fat diet. Some mice had resveratrol in their diet, some had resveratrol plus ethanol (alcohol), some had ethanol alone and some had neither ethanol nor resveratrol. The researchers used two different dose levels of resveratrol. At the end of the experiment, they examined the livers of the mice.

The researchers found, as they had expected, that resveratrol treatment increased the expression of SIRT1 and stimulated the activity of AMPK in the livers of mice fed alcohol. They further found that the increased expression of SIRT1 and AMPK led to:

* Reduction of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP-1)
* Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator alpha (PGC-1α)
* Elevation of circulating adiponectin, a hormone produced by fat cells, which helps control obesity
* Enhanced expression of adiponectin receptors in the liver, which increases the effectiveness of the circulating adiponectin.

The findings suggest that resveratrol prevents alcoholic fatty liver by coordinating molecules that control fat metabolism. This prevents accumulation of fat in the mouse liver by both reducing the production of fat and burning off the fat that is there. Interestingly, the combination of alcohol with resveratrol appears to enhance the positive effects of resveratrol, said Dr. You, the study’s senior author.

"Our study suggests that resveratrol may serve as a promising agent for preventing or treating human alcoholic fatty liver disease," the authors concluded.

American Physiological Society

ShotPak sachets are being removed from sale because of their similarity to soft drinks, appeal to children and their encouragement of rapid and excessive drinking

Sally Keeble, Northampton North’s MP, complained to the Portman Group about ShotPak drinks which are imported from the USA and sold in 50ml plastic pouches.

The pre-mixed vodka drinks are produced in four flavours: ‘Apple Sour’; ‘Lemon Drop’; ‘Purple Hooter’ and ‘Kamikaze’. There are also full-strength vodka, rum, tequila and whisky versions which are primarily marketed as STR8UP but which feature ShotPak branding.

The Independent Complaints Panel, which judges complaints under the Portman Group Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks, decided that ShotPak sachets could be mistaken for soft drinks.

The drinks also breach the Code for encouraging rapid drinking after the Panel decided that their packaging overall incited consumers to drink them in one go.

Additionally, the Panel decided that the flavour names ‘Purple Hooter’ and ‘Lemon Drop’ would have particular appeal to under-18s and that ‘Kamikaze’ is associated with self-destruction which could incite excessive drinking.

Following the Panel’s decisions, the Portman Group will be issuing a retailer alert bulletin instructing retailers to stop selling ShotPak and STR8UP.

David Poley, Portman Group Chief Executive, said:

“These drinks may be acceptable in the States but their marketing falls well short of the standards that UK producers have set themselves. Some of their names will be particularly popular in the playground. ‘kamikaze’ is a blatant breach of our Code for its association with bravado and danger. These drinks do not spell out their alcoholic content and the images of fruit add to the confusion over what is in them. They cannot be easily re-sealed and their soft packaging makes it hard to stand them up. That’s why the Panel decided that this packaging is encouraging consumers to drink rapidly. Sally Keeble’s complaint will prevent these imported drinks from getting a foothold in the market.”

Portman Group