Foreword

In my work as an addiction specialist over the years I have become increasingly frustrated by the sad state of affairs that exists for most people trying to find help for alcohol problems. While the Government has made major headway in improving services for drug addicts, they have done very little (if anything at all) to improve services for alcoholism. The number of people suffering from alcoholism is at least three times that of drug addiction, and is increasing - twice the number of people died from alcohol-related disease in 2000 as compared to 1980. Could this Government's lack of action be something to do with profits from taxation on alcohol, or possibly the poor potential for headlines and publicity as compared to illicit drugs?

1. "To cut a long story short when we arrived in casualty the doctor that Ben saw was just horrible. He said to him "Why are you here? What do you want me to do for you? You're just wasting valuable resources"."
2. "When I complained to the GP that this had been going on for ages now, and nothing seemed to be happening, he got really abusive to me and said "You're lucky I'm seeing you at all - most doctors will have nothing to do with alcoholics"."
3. "He made an appointment with the doctor to discuss the problem and ask for support in the way of something to help him through this intense period. She refused to give him anything - why would she refuse to help him? I feel terrible as he is really committed and doing what everyone is telling him, but there is no help to get him through this.

The comments above (all made by people I have helped through this service) are representative of the kind of problems suffered by people trying to get help for the disease of alcoholism. The first two comments exemplify one of the most unpleasant features - abuse and stigmatisation from people employed by The State as 'caring' professionals.

And then the stigma creates another problem - the need to deny there is a problem, to keep it quiet, to hide it. Even if you are (or the person you are trying to help is) not concerned about the views of others, you may feel unable to approach available services in the first place for fear of lack of confidentiality and the effects this may have on employment, driving licences, life insurance etc. etc.. And so the problem is compounded.

The third comment underlines a different problem - the difficulty most people have in finding and accessing help even when they are fully committed to finding it and sorting out their problems. In my view, this is the major failing of this Government - they cannot directly control the attitudes of their citizens; they cannot directly control the flow of confidential information, BUT THEY COULD provide the financial resources to allow access to good quality care for the millions of people in the UK who suffer from this disease... they have not done so.

In providing you with this information and advice pack, I will do my utmost to enable you to:

• Find the help you need and deserve.
• Plan your route through the system you choose.
• Stay in charge of the treatment you are getting.
• Keep it totally, 100% confidential.
• Get alcohol detox for free or get the best price privately.
• And most importantly – find out how to stay dry so you don’t have to do it all again.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Signed,

Dr Bruce Trathen
MBBS MRCPsych, Consultant in Addiction Psychiatry.

 

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