Rochdale makes booze-shame top-5 list

Glass of Beer

Rochdale has been named as one of the top five areas in the country for alcohol-related health problems, according to figures released today (Wednesday 1 September 2010).

Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University have named Rochdale as the fourth worst place in the country for harm caused by heavy boozing. Manchester topped the list, followed by Salford and Liverpool.

Local health officials are realistic about the problems facing Rochdale. “We’re aware of the high levels of alcohol-related harm in the Rochdale borough and it is a serious concern to us,” said Dr Michelle Loughlin, Consultant in Public Health at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.

“We're working very hard with our partners, including the council, police and local hospitals to address these issues by helping people to become aware of how much they are drinking as well as providing the right support for those who do develop alcohol-related problems.”

The figures published by the North West Public Health Observatory show that just under 16,000 people died in England last year because of alcohol-related harm, with two-thirds of the worst areas located in the North.

In stark contrast to this figures from the East and South East showed that these areas had the lowest levels of harm.

Dr Ruth Hussey, regional director of public health, said: “We are once again reminded of the terrible burden the abuse of alcohol causes residents of the North-West.”

Academics compiled the study based on a range of national indicators such as drinking patterns and deaths, as well as considering a wide range of health conditions including liver cirrhosis and high blood pressure.

It has been revealed that more than a quarter of drinkers exceed weekly healthy limits, with the number of illnesses caused by alcohol up by more than 240,000 over the last five years to 606,799. In 2008-09 there were 945,469 admissions to hospital in England for alcohol–related harm, 825 a day more than five years ago.

Help and support is available to anyone who has been, or is affected, by alcohol problems from either ADS (01706 860033) or the Community Outreach Team (01706 924883).