Alcoholism and drug abuse creating 'unsustainable burden' on health service and society

 Auditors warn that levels of addiction and inadequate services are creating an "unsustainable burden", with calls for all government departments to work together to tackle the crisis.

While alcoholism remains the biggest problem, the number of people seeking NHS help for drug addiction has doubled from 2,107 in 2007 to 4,183 in 2019 and deaths have also increased significantly.

Demand for a substitute prescribing service in the Belfast health trust alone rocketed by 300 per cent between 2018 and 2019 at a time of spiralling waiting lists.

Criticism about a lack of "reliable" data on those using treatment and rehabilitation services - which is held by the Department of Health - is also contained in today's report published by the north's Comptroller and Auditor General, Kieran Donnelly.

"While the information that is available paints a worrying picture of a growing problem, it is disappointing that the department has little reliable information on outcomes for people seeking treatment for addictions," Mr Donnelly said.

"As a result it has not been possible to determine whether spending on addiction services provides value for money or whether service users are getting the best possible outcomes."

Authors estimate that alcohol misuse alone costs the economy £900 million each year through its impact on unemployment, physical and mental health, homelessness and crime - with more than a quarter of this spend falling on an overstretched healthcare system.

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