Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 3

Written Answers. - Alcohol-Related Disorders.

Patrick D. Harte

Ceist:

188 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a statement by the North Western Health Board that almost half of those admitted for psychiatric treatment to mental hospitals were alcohol related; in view of this high figure, the steps, if any, he proposes to take to tackle the ever increasing menace of alcohol abuse in society; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin):

Statistics collected by the Health Research Board show that in 1991 alcohol-related disorders accounted for approximately 35 per cent of all admissions to psychiatric hospitals in the functional area of the North-Western Health Board and to 23.6 per cent of all admissions nationally.

In response to this high level of alcohol-related admissions, the North-Western Health Board established a review group to examine this issue. The report of the group was adopted by the board in December 1993 and it now forms its policy in relation to alcohol-related services.

The main recommendations in the report, which are now being implemented by the board, are:

—the development of immediate health promotion campaigns at Health Board level to reduce the amount of harm caused by the abuse of alcohol.

—the initiation of a screening programme aimed at identifying persons with potential problem drinking levels at a broader range of contact points within the board's service.

—that a copy of this screening programme with information and clear advice on harmful and hazardous drinking and on referral to appropriate services be made available.

—to shift from the predominant reliance on the psychiatric hospital for detoxification through the development and uptake of alternative service options for example by general practitioners or in general hospitals.

At national level, alcohol-related problems make a heavy demand on the health services. The strategy for the health services,Shaping a Healthier Future, which I published recently, includes targets to promote moderation in the consumption of alcohol and to reduce the risks to physical, mental and family health that arise from alcohol misuse. In particular, the aim is that 75 per cent of people over 15 years of age know and understand the recommended sensible limits for alcohol consumption. In addition, my Department will take steps over the next ten years to reduce substantially the proportion of those who exceed the recommended limits for alcohol consumption.

In pursuance of a broadly-based policy on alcohol, the formulation of a national alcohol policy is being developed by the Health Promotion Unit of my Department. As indicated inShaping a Healthier Future, this policy document will be launched in the next twelve months.