The numbers of people being admitted to hospital for alcohol related illnesses has been increasing steadily over recent years.  This is part of a national trend and due to the long development time of many alcohol related serious conditions is reflective of an increase in alcohol consumption over the last 30 years.

National Indicator NI39 is a measure of hospital admissions for alcohol related harm.  This is calculated both nationally (by the North West Public Health Observatory) and locally, by Sheffield NHS Public Health Analysis team.  The graph below shows bothe the locally and nationally calculated rates for this indicator.  The numbers are not the same as the local calculations use more up-to-date and accurate information on the population of Sheffield.

The North West Public Health Authority publishes local alcohol profiles for each Primary Care Trust and Local Authority in the Country.  These give an interesting insight into how Sheffield compares to the rest of the country.  Sheffield has the 7th worst binge drinking rate in the country, something that is not entirely restricted to the high student population with most of the more deprived areas in the City showing a chronic problem.  For more information on the Local Alcohol Profiles for England please visit the NWPHO website.

In order to help minimise the harm that alcohol is doing to the people of Sheffield the DAAT commissions an integrated alcohol treatment system to offer a variety of choices appropriate to an individuals needs and personal situation.  The route into treatment for alcohol misuse has been streamlined to provide one point of entry, known as the Single Entry and Assessment Point (SEAP), this service is provided by Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust (SHSC).  SHSC also provide an open access alcohol service that people can attend without any prior assessment.  To find out more please visit the SHSC website.

The SEAP service has been commissioned to provide assessment, screening and referral onto a suitable service for 2,400 individuals per year. Suitable treatment options include counselling (also known as Psycho-Social Interventions, or PSI), medically assisted withdrawal, simple brief interventions and the prescription of other medicines to prevent a relapse.  PSI services in Sheffield are provided by Turning Point Adult Treatment Services and prescribing interventions by SHSC. Residential rehabilitation services are available for people with alcohol misuse problems.

A variety of services that offer other kinds of support are available from Sheffield Alcohol Support Service (Sheffield Alcohol Advisory Service, 0114 258 7553).  These include peer support groups, SMART recovery and the Families Together project.

An estimated 42,000 people are drinking at 'harmful or hazardous' levels in Sheffield but only a fraction of these seek help to control their drinking.  Whilst numbers accessing treatment are low the waiting times for people needing help are at an all-time low, there has never been a better time to try and get help with a drinking problem in Sheffield.