High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Friday, May 16, 2008
Alcohol
Misuse of alcohol contributes to a wide range of health and social problems, including high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, cancer, suicide, accidents, and antisocial behaviours including crime and domestic violence.
In 2006/07 there was a rate of 762 per 100,000 general acute hospital discharges with an alcohol-related diagnosis in Scotland. This is a rise from the previous year (2005/06: 750) and from five years previously (2001/02: 674).
More men than women are admitted to general acute hospitals for alcohol related conditions: in 2006/07, the rate was 1,125 for males compared to 428 for females. The highest rates of alcohol-related discharges are observed for those aged 50-54 years. In the most deprived fifth of areas in Scotland (SIMD quintile = 1), there are around six times as many alcohol related discharges than is observed in the least deprived areas (SIMD quintile = 5).
The Scottish Government has established a National Indicator to reduce alcohol related hospital admission by 2011.
Source: NHS Information Services Division (ISD Scotland) (SMR01)
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