Alcohol Misuse is a major health problem. It is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49 year olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) places alcohol as the third biggest global risk factor for the burden of disease and is a causal factor in more than 60 medical conditions (Health Survey for England (HSE) 2015, NHS Digital), including: mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast cancers, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, and depression.
In 2021 26% of men and 12% of women in England were drinking at increased or high risk levels which could have an impact on their health and wellbeing. Alcohol use has health and social consequences which not only effect the individual but their families and the wider community. Harms to individuals from excessive drinking can be acute (immediate) or chronic (long term).
The documents we publish on this page are either legally required to be made available for inspection, for information and analysis purposes or may have been supplied by the public and so in some cases may not be fully accessible. If, for any reason, you cannot access the documents and need an alternative format, please email ina@durham.gov.uk.
Alcohol related harm data report: Click the report tabs to explore more data around Alcohol related harm in County Durham. Click on the expand button in the bottom right of the box to open in full screen mode.
Assessment and Audits
Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment 2022 – DCC (in development)
Links to Strategies and plans
The Health and Wellbeing Board’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-28 contains four priorities. One of these is ‘Reducing alcohol harms’. The strategy lists the following differences which we can expect to see in the life of the JLHWS (2028):
● Cultural and policy changes in relation to alcohol consumption
● Reduction in the number of hospital admission episodes for alcohol related incidents and
disease
● Reduction of under 75 death rates from chronic liver disease
● Increase in the numbers of adults and young people suffering from drink dependency, who are in treatment
● An increase in successful completions from alcohol treatment
● A reduction in alcohol related anti-social behaviour and crime rates
● More children and young people have an alcohol-free childhood
Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Operational Group Delivery Plan (in development)
The evidence base
NICE Guidance: Alcohol-use disorders: prevention
OHID: Alcohol and drug misuse prevention and treatment guidance
OHID Guidance Chapter 12:Alcohol
Other relevant links
- Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Durham Insight page
- NHS Digital,
- PHE: Healthier Lives – Alcohol Treatment
- Fingertips – Public Health England