It’s Alcohol Awareness Week 2017 and this year’s theme is alcohol and families. Alcohol Concern has partnered with Adfam to help break the cycle of silence and stigma that is all too often experienced by families.

National research shows nearly one quarter of adults are drinking more than the recommended weekly limit of alcohol. The harmful effects of alcohol and substance misuse are of increasing public health concern.

Alcohol consumption is related to a range of adverse health effects including increased risk of certain types of cancer (including breast cancer), hypertension, certain types of dementia, depression, type 2 diabetes and alcohol related brain damage. The new guidance released in 2016 recommends 14 units per week for both men and women and advises that there is no safe limit for drinking alcohol.

In Warwickshire, a variety of services are available to those in need of support to deal with reliance on alcohol and/or drugs. These services continue to support those most in need. Two such services, The Recovery Partnership and ESH Works, have worked with local residents Lee, Marie (see image), Loraine and Lee, to help them on the road to recovery. Find out more about how they are giving back within their new roles as volunteers and helping others to tackle alcohol and drug addiction.

As part of Alcohol Awareness Week, information events will take place at the following locations:

Rope Walk Shopping Centre – Nuneaton
Wednesday 15 November
10am – 2pm

Royal Priors Shopping Centre – Leamington Spa
Thursday 16 November
10am – 2pm

Cllr Les Caborn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Health, said: “There are no safe levels of drinking alcohol, however drinking within the recommended weekly limit will ensure you remain within the low risk category. We have support services available in Warwickshire and more information can be found at warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol”

“Reducing your alcohol intake has many benefits. Not only are you at lower risk of related illness, it can help you to lose weight and improve your mental health and wellbeing.”

Please visit warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol for more information on support services available to Warwickshire residents.

To find out more about how much you are drinking and easy ways you can cut back, read more at: nhs.uk/oneyou/drinking

For more information on health and wellbeing service in Warwickshire, visit: warwickshire.gov.uk/health