Drinking too much alcohol is one of the biggest causes of health problems which puts a massive strain on the NHS.
Between 2005 and 2006, 217 youngsters in the Borough were admitted to hospital for alcohol-specific reasons. Excessive drinking is a habit that is often carried through to adulthood. Hospital admissions rise to nearly 700 when we look at men of all ages and over 420 for the borough’s entire female population.
It all comes down to units for adults. The sensible weekly limit is 21 for men and 14 for women, but the recent Wigan Borough Health and Lifestyle Survey found that one in three men and one in four women exceed that limit.
Survey results show one in three Borough residents are binge drinkers – men who drink ten units or more in one session, or women who drink six units or more.
To curb the problem, it is crucial to communicate the importance of parental influences on children’s alcohol use.
There is no safe limit of alcohol consumption for under 18s. An alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children do drink it should never be until the age of 15, and this should only be under the guidance of a parent or carer in a supervised environment.
Excess drinking increases the risk of liver disease, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, mental illness, stroke and weight difficulties.
As well as causing physical harm, and using valuable NHS resources, alcohol misuse is also proven to have strong links to anti-social behaviour, crime, domestic violence, road accidents, the spread of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy.
Wigan Council’s Young People's Drug & Alcohol Team (YPDAT) offers a range of confidential services for under 19 year-olds, from basic drug and alcohol awareness information and advice to care tailored to suit the needs of an individual.
The team of highly experienced and friendly staff members come from a mental health, social, youth work and counsellor background and YPDAT also gives young people access to a registered nurse and doctor. In order to provide the highest level of care, YPDAT works closely with a number of other services and agencies, including NHS Ashton Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust.
The service provides access to advice, information and counselling, assessment and care planning, a range of treatment options, community detoxification and referral for inpatient detoxification.
In order to receive treatment the young person must agree to want help. Referral to the service can be either self-referral or by another service or agency.
If you require any additional information about the new Young Peoples Drug & Alcohol Team or would like to refer a young person, please contact the service at: Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team, Hyndelle Lodge, King Street, Hindley, Wigan WN2 3AW. Phone: 01942 777720 (Option 2). Fax: 01942 828739.
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