During January, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group and Doncaster Council are asking local people to sign up for Alcohol Concern’s ‘Dry January’ and give their bodies a holiday from alcohol.
Dr Navjot Ahluwalia, Executive Medical Director at RDaSH, said: “While alcohol can have a very temporary positive impact on our mood and can bring people together at this time of year, in the long-term it can result in serious mental health and relationship problems. It can also cause memory problems. Dry January is a good way to reset your relationship with alcohol.”
The NHS recommends that people should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week (one unit of alcohol is about half a pint of normal-strength lager; or a single measure of spirit, however a small glass of wine contains about 1.5 units of alcohol).
Nigel Ball, Doncaster Council Cabinet Member for Public Health said: “Research shows that cutting back on alcohol can help you sleep better, lose weight and save money too. It’s a great way to start the New Year and I would encourage local residents to take part.”
Anurag Agrawal, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Despite being largely preventable, alcohol-related liver diseases continue to affect increasing numbers of people. Over nine million of the UK population drinks at hazardous level with up to 12% of A&E attendances related to alcohol. At any time half of the patients admitted to gastroenterology wards have alcohol related liver injury. Dry January is an important initiative which may prevent the physical and psychological harm caused by alcohol.”
To register for Dry January sign up https://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/dry-january-signup
To talk to someone in confidence about drug or alcohol issues, please visit Aspire’s live chat at: www.aspire.community, or ring 01302 730956. Aspire is a partnership organisation set up by RDaSH and registered charity The Alcohol & Drug Service (ADS).