Alcohol

Alcohol misuse is when a person drinks levels of alcohol that can cause them physical, psychological, and social problems - both in the short-term and the long-term.

Physical problems that can be caused by alcohol misuse include:

• liver disease,
• heart disease,
• stroke.

Psychological problems that can be caused by alcohol misuse include:

• depression,
• loss of memory,
• impaired judgement.

Social problems that can be caused by alcohol misuse include:

• violence,
• domestic abuse,
• losing your job

How common is alcohol misuse in England?

Alcohol misuse is widespread in England. 33% of men and 16%women drink alcohol at levels that are hazardous to their health. In 2007, there were 863,000 admissions to hospital in England due to alcoholmisuse and 6,541 deaths directly related to alcohol misuse. The majority of these deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease.

Drugs

Almost half of 16 to 24-year-olds living in England and Wales have tried illegal drugs. But the five most commonly taken substances all pose serious dangers. For the people who take them, illegal drugs can be a  serious problem. They're responsible for between 1,300 and 1,400 deaths a year in Britain. According to the 2007/08 British Crime Survey, the five most commonly used drugs in Britain are: Cannabis, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Hallucinogens, Amphetamines.

Drugs and alcohol misuse can be very damaging not only to your health but they also wreck thousands of relationships, families, and careers.

If you would like information or advise on any drugs or alcohol related issues, you can talk to any member of staff at CTL, use the contact information found in the reflection room or log onto websites including www.talktofrank.com. You can also use the text wall– see the back page for details. All queries will be dealt with in strict confidence.