As shocking figures show how deaths due to alcohol hit a record high – our interactive map highlights how every area of the North East has been affected.
Across the North East in 2022, the region saw 474 alcohol-specific deaths, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). That’s up from 373 in 2019 – and works out at 21.6 deaths for every 100,000 people.
It’s also the highest rate of anywhere in England – and when it comes to our local areas, the picture is even starker, with South Tyneside the second worst affected local authority area in the whole of England. There were 44 alcohol-specific deaths there in 2022, up from 38 in 2019.
By comparison, the whole of London only had 837 deaths – 9.4 for every 100,000 people in the capital. That’s the lowest rate in the country.
Alcohol-specific deaths only include those health conditions where each death is a direct consequence of alcohol, such as alcoholic liver disease. It does not include all deaths that can be attributed to alcohol.
Nationwide, 2022’s figures were a record-high, and see the impact of the pandemic on alcohol harms hit home. However, also shocking is the widening of a North-South divide which sees alcohol killing people in the North East at twice the rate of those living in London and the South East.
Of course, even within the North East there are stark divides. While South Tyneside had 44 deaths, Sunderland had 66 and Darlington 26 – meaning both those areas had a rate of 23.8, which is joint sixth in the league table of the worst affected areas.
However, Newcastle had the lowest rate in our region though. There were 51 alcohol-specific deaths there in 2022. That’s a rate of 16.6 per 100,000 people.
Earlier this week, Dr James Crosbie – a GP and consultant gastroenterologist at the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust – said in response to the figures: “Once again this data shows that alcohol is causing serious illness and has contributed to the death of thousands of people here in the North East, more than anywhere else in the country.
“Alcohol can harm the body in a lot of different ways. In the short term there are the dangers of binge drinking & anti-social behaviour, but heavy drinking can also quite quickly cause severe diseases of the liver and pancreas. In the longer term we see other health risks including liver cirrhosis & brain damage, increased risk of at least seven types of cancer, heart disease and stroke.”
You can see how your local area compares by using our interactive map:
A spokesperson from the Department of Health said: “We are working to prevent alcohol deaths by ensuring people are given clear and accurate advice about the potential risks that are posed by drinking above the guidelines, including encouraging people to try more low and no-alcohol drinks.
“In addition, through our 10-year alcohol and drug strategy, supported by £532 million, we are helping up to 54,500 more people receive drug and alcohol treatment, and we are also funding specialist alcohol care teams at one in four hospitals in England.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/map-shows-how-alcohol-causes-29066180
