Alcohol related deaths hit record high in Wales

A new report on substance misuse from Public Health Wales (PHW) has revealed that alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions have hit a record high.

PHW says the report, which examines data from health, social care, education and criminal justice services, highlights the continuing need to address the growing public health impacts of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol-specific deaths in Wales– those from conditions wholly or partially caused by alcohol – increased to a new record high with 562 fatalities recorded in in 2023, marking a 15.6 per cent increase from the previous year (486) and a significant rise from 10 years before (351 in 2014).

Of the alcohol-specific deaths in 2023, nearly two thirds (64.8 per cent) involved males.

In addition, there were 683 alcohol-related deaths in Wales in 2023, which represents a 10.5 per cent jump from the previous year (618) and a substantial rise from a decade before (462).

Alcohol-specific hospital admissions also continue to rise with over 12,000 (12,236) admissions involving more than 8,000 (8,147) individuals.

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Older adults

Older adults aged 50+ made up two thirds (67 per cent) of those cases. Highest admission rates were recorded in Merthyr Tydfil (397 per 100,000 people), more than double the rate in Powys, which had the lowest admissions.

Deprivation plays a significant role with individuals from the most deprived areas in Wales 2.8 times more likely to be admitted for alcohol-specific conditions than those from the least deprived areas.

While overall alcohol-specific hospital admissions among those under 25 declined by 17.4 per cent compared to the previous year, school exclusions related to drugs and alcohol reached a new record high of 939 cases in the 2022/23 academic year.

Prof Rick Lines, Head of the Substance Misuse Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “The impacts of the harmful use of alcohol continue to be a concern across Wales, both in terms of drug related deaths in which alcohol is a factor as well as the long-term health effects of alcohol.

“Access to substance misuse services for people who experience problematic alcohol use continues to be an important intervention. However, it’s important to recognise the risk of harm even among those who do not require treatment services.”

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Inequalities

Helen Erswell, a consultant in public health at Public Health Wales, added: “This report highlights the stark health inequalities in Wales, showing that individuals in the most deprived areas are disproportionately affected by alcohol-related issues.

“It underscores the vital need for investment in prevention-focused initiatives that can reduce future health risks, ultimately supporting longer, healthier lives for everyone in Wales.”

Dan 24/7 is a service offering advice and support for queries about alcohol. Advisors are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year to answer questions and offer advice by calling 0808 808 2234 or by emailing [email protected]