Risky drinking in North West school children and its consequences: A study of fifteen and sixteen year olds Authors: Authors: Sara Hughes, Mark A. Bellis, Karen Hughes, Karen Tocque, Michela Morleo, Matt Hennessey, Linda Smallthwaite –
Abstract: Alcohol consumption has emerged as a key public health priority both in the UK and in Europe as a whole. Among the adult population, the UK has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption across Europe. For instance, compared with other European countries, the UK has one of the largest percentages of individuals who drank alcohol in the last 12 months (males 91%; females 85%; European Commission /
Eurostat, 2005), and is ranked third highest for the number of drinks consumed in one sitting (24% drink five or more drinks on a day that they drink alcohol; European Commission, 2007). In 2004, the Government published the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England (Strategy Unit, 2004) which highlighted the problems caused by heavy or frequent drinking and the importance of reducing and preventing such harms. The Strategy was updated in 2007 and identified those drinking under the age of 18, particularly those between the ages of 11 and 15, as a priority group (Department of Health et al, 2007).
Filed under: CAMHS, Drugs & Substance Misuse, alcohol, statistics | Tagged: alcohol, alcohol misuse, children and drinking habits, dual diagnosis, northwest, public health authority, statistics
