The impact of alcohol on the NHS: 'we get the drunks in 24/7'

The impact of alcohol on the NHS: 'we get the drunks in 24/7' Healthcare professionals share their experiences of funding constraints, violent behaviour and drink-related disease and death.

I have met many people from all walks of life in my career. Alcohol is often an emotional prop, a way of coping with pain, harm, sexual assault, traumatic events, inability to find the words to talk about stress, coping with financial pressure, family life, parenting pressure, death. Individuals who hear voices use alcohol to self-medicate. So next time you look at the person getting drunk, should you be so smug as to judge them as wasting NHS resources? Or should you think differently? Our culture promotes drinking for fun and we need to work on that. But let’s look a little bit deeper and consider this more. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Problem drinkers who account for 70% of alcohol sales worth £23.7bn The Daily Mail
• Problem drinkers 'make up 60 percent of alcohol sales in England' The Daily Telegraph
• Alcohol and the NHS - five key questions The Guardian
• The great British booze problem: how a few glasses a day has led to an epidemic for the NHS – video The Guardian
• Problem drinkers account for most of alcohol industry's sales, figures reveal The Guardian
• The making of a hangover: the true impact of one night out The Guardian
• The secret alcohol liaison nurse's diary: 'Cuts are having a devastating impact' The Guardian
• How the NHS saved my life: I spent my 20s playing Russian roulette with alcohol The Guardian
• Problem drinkers account for almost 70 per cent of alcohol sales The Independent