Today is Scotland’s first Alcohol Action Day. It’s a new date in the calendar to come together in acknowledgement of the massive problems caused by alcohol, the gaps in support for people affected, and the inescapable need for change.
New polling from Alcohol Focus Scotland shows that 60% of us are concerned about our own or someone else’s drinking. That’s a lot of people. And of those that are worried, 37% are not confident they, or someone close to them, could access the right support.
These figures are more or less the same across the country. From John O’Groats to Dumfries we are worried about how much we drink and often don’t know where to turn for help.
More than a million people in Scotland drink at levels that harm their health, and recent statistics showed that deaths from alcohol are almost double what they were in the nineties. And that means many more people needing help, information and assistance.
The organisations supporting people affected by alcohol harm do an extraordinary job every day. But asking for help can be tough, and support isn’t always easily available. Too many people still face barriers to getting the help they need. We’ve heard that from the people who know best: those who’ve been through it.
John from our Alcohol Action Network told us that reaching out for support was difficult at first, because of the stigma around being honest that you have a problem with alcohol. He spoke about how those around him seemed to be drinking quite heavily too, so it was hard to recognise and acknowledge that he had a real problem.
Once he accepted this and got the help he needed, he called it ‘transformative.’ For him, rehab was a safe, secure environment where he was able to draw on lots of others lived experience. Now nine years sober, he has a supportive network of friends and family.
At Alcohol Focus Scotland, we know from decades of global research that the power to stop the cycle of misery caused by the ubiquity of alcohol lies in policy change: in controlling the price, availability and advertising of drink. But we can’t leave people unsupported while we campaign for these essential changes.
The right support at the right time can make real and lasting difference to people’s lives. That’s why, this Alcohol Action Day, we’ve launched a petition calling on the Scottish Government to make alcohol support services fit for purpose, properly resourced and accessible to everyone.
Knowing what services people need, where they need them and understanding the barriers to accessing them can save lives. To use John’s word, it is transformative. Everyone deserves to get the help they need, when they need it.
Please join us in our campaign to help people get the support they need by signing our petition.
Written by Carolyn Lochhead, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland.
All IAS Blogposts are published with the permission of the author. The views expressed are solely the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Alcohol Studies.