DOCTORS REVEAL HUMAN COST OF ALCOHOL MISUSE.

DOCTORS REVEAL HUMAN COST OF ALCOHOL MISUSE. SNP MSP Michael Matheson has welcomed a report from BMA Scotland highlighting the human cost of alcohol misuse. Mr Matheson, a member of the Scottish Parliament's health committee said it drew a sharp focus on the action needed to tackle alcohol misuse , to make communities safer and to ensure the personal and financial costs of alcohol misuse to the NHS are reduced . According to the report:- The Human Cost of Alcohol Misuse – the health consequences of alcohol misuse have seen: • 42,430 patients discharged from Scotland’s hospitals for alcohol related conditions in the last year. • A 400% increase in the number of people with alcoholic liver disease since 1996. • An estimated 111,200 GP consultations in Scotland were for alcohol misuse in 2006, • Alcohol killing six people in Scotland every day. Commenting on the report Michael Matheson said: "This report underscores why we need action to deal with the cultural problem of alcohol misuse in Scotland. “Communities are tired of the damage it does and the costs it involves. “Doctors are at the front line and see frequently the cost of alcohol misuse both in human and monetary terms. “With 6 people dying every day from alcohol related illness or injury families across Scotland are feeling the direct personal impact of our problem with alcohol misuse. "They and people in our communities know that we cannot carry on supporting the £2.25billio n cost of alcohol to our society. “GPs see the real cost of alcohol to families and individuals. Their evidence must be taken seriously as all of us in the Scottish Parliament work together to ensure that firm evidence based action takes place as soon as possible and isn’t delayed further." “To listen to the voices of supermarkets and their profits over the direct concerns of Doctors, families and our health service would be devastating for Scotland’s health.”