New annual figures on alcohol treatment activity in England produced by the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) show continued increases in both patient take-up and successfully completed treatments.
The number of clients admitted for alcohol problems rose slightly (from 108,906 in 2011-12 to 109,683 in 2012-13), as did the number of first-time referrals, by almost 2% over the same period (from 74,353 to 75,773). This marks a fifth consecutive year of increases and is the highest figure recorded since records began in 2008-09.
A record number of patients were discharged from alcohol treatment programmes in 2012-13 – 70,194 – of which almost three-fifths were classed as ‘successful completions’, continuing an upward trend over the 5-year period. Public Health England director of alcohol and drugs Rosanna O’Connor said: “Tackling alcohol misuse is a top priority for Public Health England. The specialist treatment system continues to work well for many people, however, there is more to be done.”
Official 2012-13 figures on alcohol and drug treatment activity, and substance misuse among young people in England can be found on the National Treatment Agency website, now part of Public Health England.