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Isles alcohol needs assessment launched                           1/7/08

The Western Isles Alcohol Needs Assessment of the population of the Western Isles was recently launched in Stornoway and Benbecula.

The piece of work - which found that patterns of the consumption of alcohol in the Western Isles are similar to those found in the Scottish Health Survey, but there are significantly higher percentages of non-drinkers in the Western Isles - was undertaken by the NHS Western Isles Public Health Division on behalf of the Alcohol and Drug Action Team (ADAT) Western Isles.

The Alcohol Health Needs Assessment, funded by the Western Isles ADAT, was carried out using data which considered the effects of alcohol usage on people’s health and mortality.
The assessment looked at people’s attitudes, knowledge and behaviour to alcohol in general and looked at binge drinking in particular.

It also assessed the impact of age, gender, and levels of deprivation, mapping current health-related services and analysed gaps in service provision.

The aim of the assessment was to provide an information base for the ADAT. It also aimed to assist others who are engaged in wider policy and planning in the development of accessible and appropriate services, interventions and support for those affected by alcohol