Alcohol addiction 'surges in Scotland'

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by Change | 30 Sep 2009

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New figures have suggested that alcohol addiction problems are a major issue in the Lothians region of Scotland, with 16 people per day being prescribed with medication to help them kick the habit.

An average of 16 people per day are being prescribed medication to help them battle alcohol addiction in the Lothians region of Scotland, it has been reported.

According to the Scotsman, prescriptions for two different types of alcohol addiction treatment have reached 6,000 per year and they are believed to be costing the local NHS £130,000 annually.

"This reflects the rising number of alcoholics in our population and is backed up by other indices on hospital admissions and more recently, mortality rate," Jonathan Chick, a senior lecturer in Edinburgh University's school of molecular and clinical medicine, told the newspaper.

The drugs are often seen by experts as a last resort to try to help people beat their alcohol addiction, although many alcoholics might find they benefit more from a stint at a rehab clinic.

Checking into a rehab centre could prove a more successful way to beat an alcohol addiction because professionals are on hand to provide advice and support throughout the drying-out process and can help patients get through the tough stages, such as alcohol withdrawal.

The Scottish government has sought to tackle the rising problem of alcohol addiction by proposing measures to cut down on binge drinking.

The authorities have proposed putting a lower limit on the price of a unit of alcohol that would ensure more powerful drinks cannot be sold cheaply.

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