Our STORY about alcohol St Helens Public Health Annual Report 2016/17 contents Foreword 3 Chapter 1 - St.Helens - Our Story 5 Chapter 2 - Drinking Prayer 6 Chapter 3 - Alcohol Culture in St.Helens 7 - Michelle’s Story 8 - Dave’s Story 9 Chapter 4 - Tackling Alcohol Harm 10 - Healthy Living 12 - Pharmacy 13 - GP 14 - Hospital A&E 15 - Police 16 Chapter 5 - Adults 17 - A Father’s Story, by John 18 - A Daughter’s Story, by Emma 19 - Behind the Scenes at the Recovery Centre 20 - Ways to Work Scheme 22 - Engaging People in Services 23 Chapter 6 - Children and Families 24 - A Mother’s Story, by Jane 25 - Alcohol and Pregnancy 26 - Footsteps Family Support 27 - Sam’s Story 28 Chapter 7 - Conclusion 29 Chapter 8 - Acknowledgements 30 Chapter 9 - What do you Think? 31 “This Public Health Annual Report tells the story of developments that we have made in tackling alcohol harm.” Foreword ‘Our Story about Alcohol’ is my first resonate with people in St.Helens which reflected Public Health Annual Report for the needs but also highlighted the good work that St.Helens and my aim was to highlight is happening to support people. We are only at the start of a journey that St.Helens is going on, working the issue from the people’s perspective. together with people to tackle the alcohol harm in I must thank those who have invested their time to the Borough. describe how alcohol has personally affected them Alcohol is a priority for the St.Helens People’s or described how it impacts on their life. This is your Board and this report will be the catalyst for further report to help us understand the complexities of work and development to tackle alcohol harm in alcohol issues in St.Helens. the Borough, but like the report which has been The statistics around alcohol for St.Helens are produced with people, the future work will also be challenging with many indicators showing St.Helens managed in a way that is produced in conjunction in the worst few areas in the country. This means with our communities and services. we must do something to tackle this important public health issue but I did not want to produce a Sue Forster, performance report with large pieces of academic research. I wanted a report that could speak and Director of Public Health for St.Helens 3 4 CHAPTER 1 St.Helens - Our story This Public Health Annual Report tells the story of It equates to an average of £515 per person per developments that we have made in tackling alcohol year in St.Helens, far higher than the average cost harm. The statistics viewed through infographics per person for England of £387. in the report show the high level of alcohol abuse Alcohol issues touch many parts of the system and that is occurring in our communities. St.Helens the true reflections in this report highlight some of People’s Plan identified the key issues that the the areas of impact both on lives and services. By borough of St.Helens wish to tackle together with an tackling the harms of alcohol we will help to manage overarching aim to be “Improving people’s lives in the cost and demand that alcohol has on services St.Helens together, by tackling the challenge of but also create a positive outlook for the borough of cost and demand”. St.Helens both as a place and for the people. We know that the cost of health and social care There is therefore very good justification to look in is increasing in part due to our growing elderly detail on the issues relating to alcohol in St.Helens population but also some key lifestyle factors are and to start to challenge what is culturally normal. having a significant burden on health and social care. For example, alcohol misuse is a drain on hospital resources and public money; every year, alcohol-related harm costs society £21billion. The cost of alcohol harm, in relation to associated crime, the burden on NHS and local authority services and losses in workforce productivity, amounts to more than £3billion per year in the North West. 5 ‘Saving lives’ artwork displayed in the st.helens recovery centre Alcohol has been identified as a priority in the St.Helens People’s Plan 2017-2020. The aspiration is: People in St.Helens can enjoy a drink but it does not define their way of coping with life or enjoyment of life, and harm from alcohol is minimised. To achieve this, there is commitment to address the following five key aims: 1. Prevention: Working with local people (at scale) and utilising the latest research to gain insight into how best to encourage responsible drinking attitudes and behaviours across all age groups (including pre-birth). 2. Early intervention: Ensuring that the needs of the children of problem alcohol (and drug) users are being identified and met and that inter-generational harms are reduced. 3. Treatment: Delivering high quality, age-appropriate, timely, effective treatment that combines the expertise of highly qualified clinicians and the real life experience of local people who have overcome challenges and act as recovery champions to inspire others. 4. Enforcement: Reducing the number of people who experience crime and anti-social behaviour as a result of alcohol misuse. 5. Control: Influencing government policy and local licensing decisions to ensure that we reduce the availability of cheap, high strength alcohol, whilst at the same time taking action to support the development of a safe, thriving and vibrant night-time economy. 6 CHAPTER 2 drinking prayer Heavenly Father hear my plea Grant my liver serenity Give me strength to quit the drinking That’s been causing all my stinking Let my breath be fresh and true Without the stench of special brew Guide me from your heavenly offifIfice Past all the devilish offies I ask your help and it’s no wonder If I don’t quit I’m six feet under Amen 7 CHAPTER 3 Alcohol culture in St.Helens St.Helens residents drinWk an estimatedhi s 6.8 bottles ofke y spirits… …101 pints of beer and… …26.8 bottles of wine EACH per year 8 Michelle’s Story I have just turned thirty but I still enjoy a good night out with the girls and although I don’t drink much in the week because of work, weekends are a different story. Going out on the town always involves getting drunk and doing “I have a good life. I have something crazy. I wouldn’t be able to properly let go if I didn’t drink - everyone would want to know why I wasn’t got a reasonable job, a good drinking and they’d think I was boring. I suppose I do use the drink to give me confidence and sometimes I family and close friends - have ended up in some pretty messy situations and then vowed the next day to never drink again. Sometimes I just normal really...” can’t remember everything that happened and that’s a bit scary but I don’t really think it’s doing me any harm”. 9 dave’s story I don’t care what you say, no-one I know sticks to the recommended limits. I have a drink every night at home, usually two glasses of red wine (big glass) but then on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays, depending on what sport is on, I meet my mates at the local pub and get through at least ten pints each session. When I hit forty I had a bit of a health scare and I am on permanent medication now for my blood pressure; I did intend to cut down but being realistic I can’t see that happening any time soon. It’s just a feature of the way we live round here, I do a lot of socialising and I’ve done alright in life. Drink helps me to unwind and I’ll worry about tomorrow when it comes. Dave drinks 62 units per week (48 above the recommended) Consumes 4,316 calories per week from alcohol alone Spends £ 53.30 a week on alcohol equating to £ 2,772 per year 10 CHAPTER 4 tackling alcohol harm On average in St.Helens, more than 3 people a day are admitted to hospital with acute intoxication, alcohol dependence syndrome or alcohol withdrawal syndrome 4.8 percent% of all deaths in St.Helens in 2015 were alcohol-related. In 2015/16, 81 women were admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease. Between 2014 and 2016, 27 women aged under 75 years in St.Helens died of alcoholic liver disease. 11 HEALTHY LIVING TEAM For many people we work with in our communities, whole family. The Team also ran the Designated alcohol is an enjoyable element of life, a component Driver Scheme, working with local pubs and clubs of getting together with friends, celebrating a win for to offer to those registered to the scheme free soft the local team or simply relaxing after a busy week. drinks as well as promoting the safe alcohol limits Keeping within the recommended alcohol units and offering non-alcoholic alternatives. (14 units per week) whilst maintaining enjoyment The Team delivers over 2,000 local health is often where the challenge lies. An online survey screening opportunities each year. The checks conducted by the Team to find out more about identify alcohol consumption. Risk factors such as people’s drinking habits, found that for women high blood pressure, obesity and poor mental health particularly, confidence, coping and stress often led are often linked with alcohol consumption above to drinking over the recommended levels.