By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
Public Health has warned that Nottingham is facing ‘a ticking timebomb’ of people unaware of the impact alcohol has had on their liver during the pandemic.
This comes in the wake of a report that Nottingham has the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions in the East Midlands.
The most recent figures from Public Health England show there were 120 alcohol-related deaths in Nottingham and 2,075 hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions in 2020/21.
It is too early to determine how the Covid pandemic has impacted on people’s drug and alcohol use nationally.
However, Lucy Hubber, director of Public Health at Nottingham City Council, told The Health and Wellbeing Board on Wednesday, July 27, she has concerns.
A recent pilot which screened people’s livers in the city found that liver damage was occurring among the population.
While the sample was small, the level was higher than what had been found before when carrying out these screenings.
She said: “We have got drinking-related liver damage that people are not aware of yet and it is a ticking time bomb.”
She said there is an “unmet treatment need” in Nottingham for up to 3,800 dependent drinkers who could benefit from specialist treatment.
Lucy Hubber said there needs to be “a whole system approach to alcohol intervention” so that different organisations across the city feel confident having discussions with residents about alcohol use.
In a report prepared for the meeting, public health experts explained the concerns that alcohol use is causing in the city.
“The local population is suffering from the harms caused by alcohol in both the short and long-term.
“High numbers of alcohol-related hospital admissions will also put pressure on NHS services, particularly A&E and ambulance services, as well as police resources required during the night-time economy.”
A new strategy is being drawn up in Nottingham to examine illicit drug and alcohol misuse across the city and has already identified gaps in treatment.
When it comes to drug misuse, cannabis is the most commonly-used drug in the city followed by cocaine.
In Nottingham, upon entering drugs treatment, 94 per cent of young people cited their cannabis use as problematic.
The report also says an estimated 63 per cent of the people who use opiate and crack cocaine are aged 35-64.
The report says there is “a potential unmet need” in opiate and crack users aged under 35 years.
Reported drug use is highest among 16-19 year-olds and 20-24 year-olds, but these age groups account for only eight per cent of people in structured treatment in Nottingham.
The report says there is a potential gap within service provision for this age group. Substance use among Nottingham’s student population is also not clear, the report says.
But it estimates the number of students using substances is at 11,800, meaning there needs to be a “focus on understanding the level of need among this population”.
Dr Hugh Porter, a GP at the University of Nottingham Health Service, told the board he had concerns about ‘smart drugs’ among students.
These are a group of prescription drugs used to improve concentration and mental stamina, often used during periods of study.
He said he was aware they were “common and readily available” and that “more work needs to be done on that.”
Deaths related to drug use in the overall East Midlands region have reached a record high, with 321 in 2020. In contrast, Nottingham has seen a decrease from 40 in 2019 to 25 in 2020.
The report also recommends more work is undertaken to understand the reasons why people drop out of treatment.
Of the 926 adult Nottingham people who left treatment in 2020/21 – 201 people (22 per cent) dropped out or stopped engaging.
The number of young people aged 24 and under presenting for treatment over the last decade has been declining both in Nottingham and nationally.
There were 50 new presentations into treatment in 2020/21, compared to 261 in 2009/10.
Cllr Cheryl Barnard (Lab) said: “When we look at people in psychiatric hospitals, alcohol and drugs is a major factor. It is really important we get some messages out there, maybe from former drug users about long-term use.”
Cllr Linda Woodings (Lab) added: “When we see drinking becoming a drinking problem, I think we only see the tip of the iceberg of people going to their GPs because they do not see it as problem.”
The Health and Wellbeing Board endorsed the report and the recommendations for consideration by service commissioners, which includes these gaps in treatment provision.
