Health authorities in Wales have reported that alcohol-induced fatalities have reached an unprecedented peak.
According to a Public Health Wales report, there were 562 fatalities in Wales during 2023, marking a 15.6% rise compared to the prior year.
Eurwyn Thomas, a past member of the police force from Caernarfon, Gwynedd, referred to himself as a “heavy drinker” whose life led to losing both family and friends because of his harmful habits.
He mentioned that we can’t always manage everything in our lives in the most healthy manner, often resorting to things we ought not to.
Radio Wales Breakfast
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The study revealed an increase in alcohol-associated hospital admissions as well.
Ideally, having a few glasses of wine or a beer to relax sounds good; however, that approach wasn’t effective for me,” explained Mr. Thomas.
He developed an alcohol dependency in the mid-2000s, which soon turned into a significant issue.
“I can say with three years of sobriety under my belt, it wasn’t just my life that it shattered; it also ruined the lives of so many people surrounding me at the time,” he stated.
it has shattered relationships and prevented me from seeing my children for numerous years—far too many to admit comfortably. This upheaval completely overturned my entire life.
Mr Thomas served as a police officer in Caernarvon, and he mentioned it seemed as though he was juggling three different existence.
“I maintained my personal life, my family life, and my professional life. Balancing all these was challenging, and eventually, everything collapsed,” he mentioned.
Mr. Thomas stepped down from his role as a police officer in 2019 because of his struggle with alcoholism.
The report was authored by Professor Rick Lines, who serves as the head of substance misuse at Public Health Wales. He stated that regions facing multiple deprivations experience the most severe impacts of substance-related harms.
He mentioned the existence of “several vulnerabilities” linked to deprivation, indicating that individuals might lack the necessary resilience or protective elements like financial stability.
“So that clearly highlights the continuing issues that addressing substance is more than just providing services, it’s also looking at the broader conditions of life,” he said.
Mr Thomas now lives in Cardiff and has been sober for three and a half years.
“It’s great to sit here and be up front about these things and say ‘yeah I really messed up’,” he said.
“So this is what happens when you let alcohol take over your life because everything will come crashing down.”
A representative from the Welsh government stated that their strategy for addressing “alcohol and drug abuse encompasses prevention, treatment, and recovery assistance, with an emphasis on enhancing health outcomes and minimizing damage.”
The organization mentioned that they are collaborating with health boards and regional planning councils to guarantee various services are established.
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- People with drinking problems shift from consuming cider to choosing vodka.
- Deaths related to alcohol hit an all-time peak in 2021.
