Figures presented to the Northumberland Health and Wellbeing Board on Thursday (January 9) showed that the number of alcohol-specific deaths in Northumberland between July 2023 and June 2024 was 22.62 per 100,000 residents. In comparison, the figure for England over the same period was 14.38.
Furthermore, the number of hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions was almost double the national rate – 823 for Northumberland in 2022/23 compared to 475 for England.
The report stated that alcohol-specific deaths were on an “upward trajectory” in the county between 2022 and 2024, although numbers are now falling.
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Speaking at the meeting, Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said: “The figures for Northumberland on alcohol are alarming, clearly.
“This is not just about hospital admissions, but the effect on crime and anti-social behaviour. What are we going to see different in the next twelve months to try tackle this? Or, is it a problem that is impossible to tackle?”
The council’s deputy director of public health, Jim Brown, said: “A challenge is always an opportunity. It is important that we recognise that this is an opportunity to do better.
“I think alcohol is achievable. The view is we have seen progress around tobacco.
“We are behind on alcohol, but if we can influence national policy and align everything locally, and we continue to fund our service. We have increased the number of people accessing services by 20 per cent, but we also need to influence the views of our population.”
Director of public health Gill O’Neill added: “We’re probably around 20 years behind tobacco with alcohol in relation to being really informed with industry tactics and how we look at that.
“Having uncoupled drug services to alcohol is really important, because it is a very different cohort that we are working with. Seeing that 20 per cent increase in the number of people receiving treatment is really positive that people are coming forward knowing they need help.”
The report stated that a “system-wide” alcohol strategy is currently in development. The strategy will focus on “prevention and community asset-based approaches”.
Cllr Sanderson requested a full report on the plan to deal with the issue come to the board in the future.