Demand for alcohol treatment in Doncaster doubles due to pandemic say bosses
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Councillors heard the Covid-19 pandemic has led to more people drinking heavily and more people seeking help.
But health bosses estimate just 10 per cent of those who need help are willing to get it.
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Hide AdDMBC public health specialist Helen Conroy said an ‘alcohol alliance’ had been formed which meets monthly to address the 'unmet need' while aiming to reduce alcohol related harm.
The meeting heard that two additional alcohol workers have been recruited to address the increased demand and services remained open in a ‘Covid secure way’.
Ms Conroy also said Huddersfield University was carrying out research on how responses can be improved to the harm caused to children while living with parents who drink too much.
“The kind of baseline that we were at before Covid-19 was about 10 per cent of dependent drinkers in the treatment system meaning 90 per cent were not accessing help,” she said.
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Hide Ad“But the increase in referrals to the front door will result in a decrease in that unmet need because there are new people into the treatment system who previously weren't engaging.
“We are pleased about that increase at the front door because it will increase the number of people in treatment and thereby that ratio will be favourable.”
Ms Conroy was asked around if there was a link between the rising domestic abuse figures in Doncaster and the increase in referrals for alcohol treatments.
Figures show domestic abuse in Doncaster has risen by around 16 per cent when comparing 2019 to 2020.