 Alcohol-related illnesses appear to be on the increase |
Three people in Dumfries and Galloway have died from alcohol-related illnesses in the last week. The news comes after national figures showed the number of Scots suffering from such conditions had more than trebled in the past 15 years.
Alcohol-related discharges from Dumfries Infirmary rose from 211 in 1990 to 978 last year.
Alcohol and Drug Support South West Scotland said the figures represented a "worrying trend" for the region.
Manager Angela Roberts said that demand for services - and the number of alcohol-related illnesses - was on the rise.
People helped
"In the past four to five years I would say our services have grown on average by 20% to 30% every year," she said.
"Last year, across the range of services that we work with, we probably helped around 1,500 people directly affected with problems related with alcohol."
Ms Roberts said the group was sure there were many other people who - for a variety of reasons - did not use their services.
"Really it is the tip of the iceberg and it is a very, very worrying trend," she said.
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