‘Scandalous’ lack of treatment services

The government must start investing in treatment services to stem a
dramatic rise in the number of alcohol-related deaths, campaigners
have warned.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics made public last
week show that total number of alcohol-related deaths rose from
5,525 in 2000 to 6,544 in 2004.

Charity Turning Point said the figures showed that the provision of
services depended on a “postcode lottery”. Richard
Kramer, its head of policy, said: “The chronic lack of
investment in treatment services is scandalous.”

In some areas alcohol-related deaths rose by almost 50 per cent
over the past five years. The biggest increase was in Yorkshire and
the Humber, which recorded a 46 per cent rise from 428 deaths in
2000 to 627 last year.