A new report says that Britain's addiction to alcohol is crippling their health system. The National Health Service, which is funded by taxpayers, spends about 2.7 billion pounds ($4.4 billion) each year treating patients for alcohol-related medical problems. This figure is twice the amount it was five years ago in Britain. The National Health Service is functioning on approximately 100 billion pounds ($162  billion) every year.

The report is published by the NHS Confederation, a health care providers organization, and the Royal College of Physicians. It cautions that approximately 10.5 million adults in Britain drink more than the recommended amount. About 1.1 million people throughout the country hhave an addiction to alcohol. At this time, the British government says that men should drink no more than four units of alcohol a day. Women should drink no more than three units each day. A small glass of wine or beer has a little more than one unit of alcohol.

A recent study at a hospital in Leeds, in the northeastern part of the country, discovered that one-fifth of all emergency room visits over a four month period were for medical problems related to alcohol use. The president of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Ian Gilmore, believes that the National Health Service could not afford to continue treating the amount of people with medical consequences from alcohol use. Gilmore also believes that physicians in Britain need to be more involved in educating patients on the perils of excess alcohol consumption. Gilmore wants physicians and nurses in local communities to help people be more proactive about their health.

"The role of the NHS should not just be about treating the consequences of alcohol-related harm but also about active prevention, early intervention and working in partnership with services in local communities to raise awareness of alcohol-related harm," Gilmore said.

The number of deaths linked to alcohol in Britain has risen steadily over the years. This mortality rate has comprised of heavy drinkers who abused alcohol for decades. Between 1991 and 2006, the number of these deaths in Britain more than doubled to 8,758.

The British Department of Health issued a statement Saturday saying that it would work together with physicians and nurses to tackle this public health problem.

If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol abuse, contact us at The Treatment Center or go to thetreatmentcenter.com. We can restore hope.

Progress

Those suffering from addiction today have many more options available to them to help them recover then in times past. The 12 step model for recovering from alcoholism was first brought to light in the 1930's. Soon after, this same model was adapted to include many other forms of addiction such as over-eating, gambling, smoking etc.... The 12 step model of recovery is still regarded as the most successful form of treatment from addiction and is used at treatment facilities across the country. Recently, various medications have been developed that aid in diminishing cravings or lessening the pleasurable effects of using drugs/alcohol. Researchers are making stunning new developments in the genetic and biologic basis of addiction using various brain-mapping techniques, including MRI and PET scans. By increasing our understanding of exactly how addiction affects the brain, we will soon be able to develop medications and behavioral techniques that are more effective in combating active addiction then ever before.

My goal is to build a strong network for the alumni of The Treatment Center. I believe a strong support system is paramount to continued recovery. Having a large, tight-knit community of your peers can be the biggest asset for someone in early recovery. We all know it can be uncomfortable to get numbers from complete strangers at meetings and actually call them. Our alumni can already relate to each other and feel more comfortable talking to each other. My goal is to continue growing the alumni organization and developing new avenues for the members to contact each other. I look forward to continue meeting with alumni and watching each person grow and embrace their new life.