WORCESTERSHIRE County Council is among local authorities accused of not doing enough to help people coping with alcoholism.

According to an analysis of Public Health England statistics by the UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT), in 2017/18 5,156 people were dependant on alcohol.

This is 10 out of every 1,000 people and represents a reduction of 115 since 2010 which is not enough according to UKAT, which operates residential treatment centres for addiction around the UK.

UKAT’s Group Treatment Lead, Nuno Albuquerque, said: “Councils across the West Midlands assumed lead responsibility for alcohol service provision back in 2013, giving them full autonomy of how and where they spend their annual Public Health Grant, yet the numbers of people dependent on alcohol and in need of treatment overall isn’t reducing as much as you’d expect after seven years."

Across the West Midlands there were 62,570 adults dependant on alcohol in 2017/18 and a freedom of information request by UKAT revealed there were 10 residential rehabilitation units available to treat people with alcohol dependence in 2013 but three have since closed.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “Individuals who require support for their alcohol or drug problems can access a range of support options.

"Worcestershire County Council commissions an integrated evidence based drug and alcohol service and the annual value in 2019/20 is £3,904,000.

"This includes delivery of a specialist treatment service for young people and adults and supports access to community detoxification and rehabilitation.

"In 2019, there were approximately 2000 adults and 100 young people in specialist drug and alcohol treatment in Worcestershire and the rates of successful treatment completions for alcohol and opiate use are significantly better than the national average.”

Nuno Albuquerque added: "If the councils decide to opt for other - more than likely, cheaper - types of care for their patients, like community day centres, then these facilities lack vital funding and over time, have ceased operation.

"Quite simply, greater investment in effective treatment facilities, accessibility and awareness will help lower the number of people in this community suffering with alcohol dependence.”