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| Rise in alcohol abuse 'appalling' | Rise in alcohol abuse 'appalling' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The number of people being treated for alcohol misuse in Wales has gone up by more than 40% in a year, new figures suggest. | The number of people being treated for alcohol misuse in Wales has gone up by more than 40% in a year, new figures suggest. |
| The statistics released by the NHS in Wales also indicate a jump in numbers seeking help for cocaine abuse. | The statistics released by the NHS in Wales also indicate a jump in numbers seeking help for cocaine abuse. |
| Opposition politicians in the assembly described the figures as "appalling". | Opposition politicians in the assembly described the figures as "appalling". |
| But the assembly government said the figures were "experimental", and the rise had been expected because of more funding for treatment programmes. | But the assembly government said the figures were "experimental", and the rise had been expected because of more funding for treatment programmes. |
| Last year, 15,415 people were treated for alcohol misuse in Wales, up from 10,899 the year before, according to figures from Health Solutions Wales. | Last year, 15,415 people were treated for alcohol misuse in Wales, up from 10,899 the year before, according to figures from Health Solutions Wales. |
| The county with the highest number of those being treated was Merthyr Tydfil, where more than 800 people were seen. | |
| Misusing cannabis | Misusing cannabis |
| Sixty five of those referred for treatment across Wales were under-12-years old. | |
| The number of people receiving treatment for cocaine addiction has also increased dramatically in the space of a year, by 47% and treatment for cannabis is up by a quarter, the figures showed. | The number of people receiving treatment for cocaine addiction has also increased dramatically in the space of a year, by 47% and treatment for cannabis is up by a quarter, the figures showed. |
| The two largest categories recorded as main problem substance after alcohol were heroin and cannabis. | The two largest categories recorded as main problem substance after alcohol were heroin and cannabis. |
| 53% of clients seen for misusing heroin were aged under 30 (50% of males and 63% of females). | 53% of clients seen for misusing heroin were aged under 30 (50% of males and 63% of females). |
| 72% of clients seen for misusing cannabis were aged under 30 (73% of males and 71% of females) and 40% were aged under 20. | 72% of clients seen for misusing cannabis were aged under 30 (73% of males and 71% of females) and 40% were aged under 20. |
| Mark Isherwood, Conservative AM for North Wales said the figures were "absolutely appalling" and that the assembly government's strategy to tackle drug and alcohol abuse was failing. | Mark Isherwood, Conservative AM for North Wales said the figures were "absolutely appalling" and that the assembly government's strategy to tackle drug and alcohol abuse was failing. |
| The assembly government says extra treatment places were now available | The assembly government says extra treatment places were now available |
| "Much more needs to be done to help those suffering with drug and alcohol misuse problems, " he said. | "Much more needs to be done to help those suffering with drug and alcohol misuse problems, " he said. |
| "The lives of vulnerable people across Wales are being wrecked by drug and alcohol abuse. | "The lives of vulnerable people across Wales are being wrecked by drug and alcohol abuse. |
| "It highlights the folly of cutting detox beds in places like north Wales, as we have seen in recent days. | "It highlights the folly of cutting detox beds in places like north Wales, as we have seen in recent days. |
| "Drug and alcohol abusers need treatment, training, housing and an introduction to the workplace. | "Drug and alcohol abusers need treatment, training, housing and an introduction to the workplace. |
| But a Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said they expected the rise in figures because it substantially increased the money available for treating substances misusers in Wales over recent years. | But a Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said they expected the rise in figures because it substantially increased the money available for treating substances misusers in Wales over recent years. |
| That figure was up 660% over the past 4 years, said the spokesman, which demonstrated "the success of the current strategy, not its failure". | That figure was up 660% over the past 4 years, said the spokesman, which demonstrated "the success of the current strategy, not its failure". |
| Reduce harm | Reduce harm |
| "Tackling drug and alcohol misuse continues to be a priority with the delivery of a new Welsh strategy being backed by an extra £9.6m over the next 3 years," said the spokesman. | "Tackling drug and alcohol misuse continues to be a priority with the delivery of a new Welsh strategy being backed by an extra £9.6m over the next 3 years," said the spokesman. |
| "This funding will be used to deliver the new strategy, including extra treatment places and other support for substance misusers. | "This funding will be used to deliver the new strategy, including extra treatment places and other support for substance misusers. |
| "It will also fund measures to tackle binge drinking and actions to reduce harm to the wider community as a result of substance misuse such as alcohol related anti-social behaviour." | "It will also fund measures to tackle binge drinking and actions to reduce harm to the wider community as a result of substance misuse such as alcohol related anti-social behaviour." |
| The spokesman added that this was only the second time these statistics have been released in this way. | The spokesman added that this was only the second time these statistics have been released in this way. |
| He said improvements in both data collection methods and the quality of the data mean that the figures published this year should not be compared directly to last year's. | He said improvements in both data collection methods and the quality of the data mean that the figures published this year should not be compared directly to last year's. |