Dying for a drink

WOMEN in Oldham are drinking themselves to death according to new statistics.

The borough is the third worst in the country for female deaths from chronic liver disease, ranked 324 out of 326 local authorities in the country according to the North-West Public Health Observatory (NWPH).

Across the North-West, deaths from chronic liver disease in 2007-08 increased by 2.8 per cent for men to 10,928 per 100,000 population, and 2.4 per cent for women to 6,293.

Figures also showed that harmful drinking rates in Oldham, defined as more than 50 units a week for men and 35 for women, are the seventh worst across all local authorities in the North-West.

A 20-year-old Oldham woman, who did not want to be identified, said: “I go out at least three times a week to drink alcohol.

“Some nights I get so drunk I can’t remember parts of the night or how I got home and I feel so ill the next day.

“But I don’t really worry about the affect it’s having on my health because I’m only young and I want to have fun. My parents worry about how much I drink but I’ve got years to settle down and give my liver a rest.”

Eight out of 10 local authorities with the highest levels of alcohol–related harm are in the North-West.

They are Oldham, Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Rochdale, Halton, Tameside and Bolton.

Alan Higgins, director of public health for Oldham, said: “Reducing levels of harmful drinking in Oldham is a high priority for us.We are working with other local organisations, such as Oldham Council, the police, the drug and alcohol action team and other organisations that provide treatment to tackle this problem.

“We have recently appointed an alcohol co-ordinator, who is dedicated to improving alcohol services in Oldham. As part of this role we have identified gaps in our services, which is why we are now investing in new initiatives that will really bring about change in Oldham.

“An alcohol strategy is currently under development that will look at specific alcohol-related themes, such as children and young people and crime.”

“A pilot programme is due to begin at the Royal Oldham Hospital early next year that will offer brief advice, support and treatment to people of all ages who are drinking at hazardous levels.

“Most local GPs have now signed up to an agreement to ask their patients how much they are drinking and are able to offer support and treatment, or point patients in the direction of someone who can.”