New research reveals more than 80% of people in Ireland say alcohol has a negative effect on someone they know.
British journalist, broadcaster and political aide Alastair Campbell was in Dublin recently to support the Reduce Your Alcohol Use campaign supported by Lundbeck Ireland and launch a national survey on alcohol attitudes and usage that shows more than 80% of people in Ireland say alcohol has a negative effect on someone they know. At the launch, Mr. Campbell shared his personal struggle with alcohol dependence and depression, and the impact this had on his family, and professional life.
Current Irish trends reveal that almost half of alcohol drinkers in Ireland (43%) have experience of harmful alcohol consumption either personally, in their family or among friends, which equates to 1.2 million adults. In addition 68% of people agreed that excessive drinking is commonplace.
Research collected shows two in five (40%) people know at least one person close to them who drinks every day, with one in three (30%) stating that they are concerned about the drinking habits of someone close to them. However interestingly, only one in ten (9%) of respondents said that they had been told by a friend or a family member that they should drink less.
"In the past, I lived in a constant state of anxiety, abusing alcohol and trying to hide it from friends and family. Then one day I woke up in BMI Hospital in Glasgow, unaware of how I had gotten there. It took me a long-time, and several visits with healthcare professionals, before I could actually admit that I had a drinking problem," said Mr. Campbell. "Alcohol dependence is a powerful and all-consuming disease that absolutely impacts your health, both physical and mental. My experience led to serious bouts of depression when I refused medical treatment for a while, and fractured relationships with the people closest to me. I would encourage anyone misusing alcohol to seek out help and support, and to visit their GP for the right advice."
Attitudes on effects of alcohol are also highlighted in the research, with two in five (42%) people worrying more about ‘doing something silly' having had a few drinks rather than alcohol's effect on their health. Outside of the physical impact of drinking to excess, over a quarter (26%) of respondents also stated that alcohol could bring out the worst in them sometimes, with nearly a third (29%) agreeing that they can say or do things when they drink that they regret afterwards.
Source: waterford today, 17/10/12
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