‘Lack of funds will hamper treatment’

Alcohol organisations have expressed fears that the imminent
Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy will not be accompanied by
additional funds.

Richard Phillips, Alcohol Concern’s director of policy and
services, said the charity had always had “anxieties” that there
would be no new money for treatment.

“We are expecting good things in the strategy, although the lack of
resources for treatment may be a weaker area,” he said. While
ring-fenced funding was not essential to make the strategy
successful, it would make things a lot better, he added.

Mary Greener, area manager of Addaction south-west, said that
services were becoming increasingly busy and there were significant
numbers of people on waiting lists for treatment.