One Less Drink...
What could one less drink mean for your kids?
Would it mean Mummy could make their breakfast tomorrow?
Would it mean they won’t be late for school again?
Would it mean Daddy won’t lie in bed all day?
It was National Alcohol Awareness Week from 18th to 24th October, focussing on how problem drinking by adults at home affects children.
A number of activities took place during National Alcohol Awareness Week to highlight the impacts that problematic drinking in the home can have on children and young people and to encourage problematic drinkers to seek support: These included:
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The launch of the Alcohol Nurse Service and Rethink Your Drink scratch card project at Queen Alexandra Hospital. More>
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The launch of the Alcohol Advisory School Nurse post in secondary schools across Portsmouth. More>
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Free and confidential ‘walk- in’ alcohol advice clinic
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Alcohol Interventions Team information stand in Queen Alexandra Hospital
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Advertising campaign displayed cross the city on billboards, bus shelters and in GP surgeries and pharmacies. Plus a radio campaign on Heart FM.
See the full press release here
Facts
Alcoholism in the home not only affects young people in an immediate sense but the repercussions follow them into adulthood with research suggesting that 70% of those children with alcoholism in their homes later develop compulsive behavioural problems themselves, including addictions to alcohol, gambling, drugs, sex and food (Priory Healthcare Research).
Portsmouth itself has the highest rate of alcohol related hospital admissions in the South East, approximately 4200 people per year. In addition as many as 14,000 A&E attendances per year are alcohol related and it is estimated that alcohol misuse costs the NHS over £10million per year in Portsmouth alone.
