There were an estimated 1.09 million hospital admissions2 3 for which an alcohol-related disease, injury or condition was the primary reason for admission or a secondary diagnosis, in 2014-15, compared to 1.06 million in 2013-14.
The figures, released today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre1, also show that men account for the majority of these admissions (65 per cent) compared to women (35 per cent).
There has been a rise in the number of drugs prescribed4 for the treatment of alcohol dependence. The number of prescription items dispensed in England in 2015 was 196,000 which is nearly double the number ten years ago, when it was 109,000. The total Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) for items prescribed for alcohol dependence in 2015 was £3.93 million – more than double the level ten years ago when it was £1.52 million
In 2014, there were 6,830 deaths5 which were related to the consumption of alcohol – an increase of 4 per cent from 2013 and an increase of 13 per cent from 2004. Alcoholic liver disease accounted for nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of all alcohol-related deaths.
Statistics on Alcohol – England, 2016 uses a number of data sources, some previously published, to provide a detailed insight into patterns of use, behaviours and attitudes towards drinking alcohol among adults and children.
The report also includes regional data on hospital admissions and prescribing broken down by Local Authority areas. The statistics show that, in 2014-15, Salford had the highest estimated rate of hospital admissions where an alcohol-related disease, injury or condition was the primary reason for admission or a secondary diagnosis at 3,570 per 100,000 population. Wokingham had the lowest rate at 1,270 per 100,000 population.
Today’s report also shows:
- The estimated number of hospital admissions where an alcohol-related disease, injury or condition was the primary reason6 or there was an alcohol-related external cause, was 333,000 in 2014-15. This is 32 per cent higher than 2004-05.
- Based on the above measure, regional data show the Local Authority area with the highest number per 100,000 population was Blackpool with 1,220. Wokingham also had the lowest rate for this measure at 380.
- In 2014, 28.9 million people in Great Britain reported drinking alcohol in the previous week which equates to 58 per cent of the population. 2.5 million people drank more than 14 units on their heaviest drinking day7.
- 38 per cent of secondary school pupils who were surveyed in 2014, had tried alcohol8– the lowest proportion since the survey began in 1982, when it was 62 per cent.
Responsible statistician, Paul Niblett, said: “These data provide an insight into the effect of alcohol on health services, and can offer a better understanding to the public, health professionals and policy makers of this on-going public health issue.”
You can read the full report at http://www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/alcohol16
