Cash for alcohol blackspot areas

The 20 areas in England most blighted by alcohol problems are to be targeted as part of a £7 million initiative.

The aim of the cash is to make specialist treatment easier to reach, driven by new "regional alcohol managers" who will also give advice.

Most of the areas named are in the midlands or north, with just one in the south-east.

Alcohol Concern said it would be a "challenge" to turn the money into services for those needing them most.

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"For every pound spent on alcohol intervention, five pounds are saved by the public purse - so this is money well spent."
Dawn Primarolo MP
Health minister

The money is part of a £34 million pot to boost communities in disadvantaged areas first announced in June by Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Ministers see alcohol abuse as a significant factor in the health inequalities which they have pledged to reduce by a tenth inside the next two years.

However, in many areas, it is hard to get specialist treatment, with just one place for every 18 people who show signs of alcohol dependency.

The 20 primary care trusts announced will share £3 million to address this directly, with another £2 million spent on the regional alcohol managers who will coordinate their efforts.

A further half million will fund a "national support team", and £1 million on a "learning centre" which will look for success stories generated by the money, and spread these to other primary care trusts.

'Postcode lottery'

Health minister Dawn Primarolo MP said: "We clearly have a serious problem that needs urgent attention.

TARGET AREAS

• Ashton, Wigan and Leigh
• Blackpool
• Bolton
• Darlington
• East Lancashire
• Heart of Birmingham
• Knowsley
• Leicester City
• Manchester
• Middlesbrough
• Newcastle
• Newham
• North East Lincolnshire
• North Lincolnshire
• North Tyneside
• Nottingham City
• Oldham
• South Birmingham
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Warrington

"We are going to roll out a new programme which will identify and help drinkers who are at risk.

"For every pound spent on alcohol intervention, five pounds are saved by the public purse - so this is money well spent."

The chief executive of Alcohol Concern, Don Shenker, said that problem drinkers had faced a "postcode lottery" of services for too long.

"This new injection of cash is welcome for the areas worst affected by alcohol misuse and all areas will benefit from improved information and guidance.

"Slowly, but surely, local areas are now being provided with the tools they need to invest in alcohol treatment, the challenge will be for them to convert this into services on the ground for those who need it most."

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