Prescriptions to treat alcohol misuse increased in 2021

The number of prescriptions given for drugs to treat alcohol misuse in 2021 was 167,000, 1% higher than 2020, according to the NHS Statistics on Alcohol 2021 report. 

The total net ingredient cost was £4.63m for drugs prescribed for alcohol dependence in 2020/21, this is 2% higher than in 2019/20 and 33% higher than in 2014/15.

The report also includes previously published data from other sources, including statistics around alcohol-related hospital admissions.

These figures show that drinking alcohol was the main reason for around 280,000 admissions to hospital in 2019/20, under the narrow definition. This is 2% higher than in 2018/19.

There were almost 980,000 admissions in 2019/20, under the broad measure, this is 4% higher than in 2018/19.

The report also shows that 65% of the patients admitted to the hospital due to alcohol were male.

In related news, research published in April 2021 showed that more people are using online treatment for alcohol misuse since the start of the pandemic.

The health and social care organisation Turning Point, which treated 60,000 people with drug and alcohol problems last year called on the government to keep the momentum going by directing money toward treatments.