A new slimmer version of the site has been produced for use with mobile browsers, such as Android devices and iPhones etc. If you want to view the site on your mobile simply type in the web address and you will automatically be directed to the mobile version if you are using a mobile device. The site remains the same as the desktop version for Tablet types, such as the iPad. Sometimes reading things on a mobile can be more private, especially if the view is optimised for such devices! The contact section of the mobile site allows you to phone us directly, or if you prefer you can send an email from the mobile site.

If you consider the relationship between people who develop an alcohol and for that matter drug dependency, with the society at large, it is clear that there is often a interdependence between the individual with the problem and their family or friends. Whilst they may be estranged from them, often they will be in contact; remember alcohol or drug dependents are also sons, daughters, parents, grandchildren and members of extended family groups.

Therefore, given the foregoing, each of these groups can have many contributory factors which need to be considered when addressing the nature of restorative treatment. It is likely that some of the following and often more than one factor, maybe interacting, to complicate the picture. These include, divorce, separation, bereavement, unemployment and debt, but the list could be much greater. These may lead to,  insecurity in accommodation, deterioration in health and mental health issues.

Families and others associated with an individual having dependency problems are profoundly affected by the need to support their relative or loved one, yet this is often rejected and sometimes violently by the individual. But families do play a critical role in support with both alcohol and or drug, problems. These concerns have been recognised for some time, and we at Linwood are always on hand to assist in the recovery process. For further information about how we can assist please either use the contact form here on the site, or alternatively Call free on 0800 066 4173 (or if you are calling from a mobile phone or from overseas, call 01226 698 054) for professional, confidential advice on those vital first steps on the road to recovery.

The short and tragic life of Amy Winehouse (27) has been a headline in every mainstream media outlet ever since the singer died in July 2011, so mentioning one of the many articles here may seem a little trivial. However I think it worth mentioning because the article by Frederick Forsyth, he of many famous thriller novels, not least "The Day of the Jackal", in his column in the Daily Express, contrasts the attitudes between drinking and smoking with the use of illegal drugs. Whilst his opinion may be accurate in his view, it does not fit with the recent television programme on the BBC by the Panorama team of young drinkers consuming vast quantities of booze. Let's be honest anything which is a behaviour modifier is liable to abuse, we are all susceptible.

Tragic Amy, leaving behind a huge swathe of loyal fans along with her close relatives and friends, has left a mark, sadly up and down the country day by day, night by night, others slip away and are never heard of again! Do not let this happen to you or anyone you know, we are only a click away!

To view the article in the online version of the Daily Express, click here.

Perhaps anyone who takes a drink might like to consider the effects of heavy drinking upon the body. Indeed a recent Panorama programme was a "no holds barred" view of life in a regional hospital as it battled with patients, many in their twenties, with serious problems brought on by drinking to excess.

Panorama uncovers the impact alcohol is having on a younger generation of problem drinkers, and asks whether the government is doing enough to stop us drinking ourselves to death.

The programme can be viewed on the BBC iPlayer here. Remember the programmes are only available for a short time, seven days I think, from the transmission date of the first August 2011.

Shocking footage showed a 35 year old woman, who drank a bottle of brandy a day; a 45 year old man with years of consumption of 20+ pints of beer a day; and a tragic 32 year old man addicted to cheap cider... who lived in a cave... as a result of his habit.

Update: 6th August 2011

The shocking footage of the 35 year old woman lying in a hospital bed, her complexion a pallid yellow, and the same yellowing of the eyes, a clear sign of jaundice, a symptom of liver disease, was a stark message to drinkers. However there was a follow-up item on the BBC News in an interview with Charlie Stayt, Vicky and her mother explained how with the nursing care she had received she was beginning to put her life back together. The picture below is testimony to the fact, as she looked much improved from her earlier condition. One message was clear from the interview, people with alcohol problems need lots of help and support. That is why we at Linwood feel compelled to do our utmost to assist people in this predicament. If you or someone close to you needs help, please complete our contact form.

A letter in the Daily Telegraph is reproduced here, written by a group of organisations in the private sector who are dedicated to reducing the Brtain's drug culture.

SIR – We represent leading voluntary and private sector abstinence-based rehabilitation centres in England. We were concerned by the revelations in Kathy Gyngell’s report, published by the Centre for Policy Studies, Breaking the Habit: why the state should stop dealing drugs and start doing rehab (“Benefits and treatment for drug addicts cost £3.6 billion a year”, telegraph.co.uk, June 19).

We call on the Government to make abstinence-based rehabilitation central to the implementation of its drugs policy. Fewer than 2 per cent of addicts seeking help to quit drugs are currently referred to rehab. An immediate goal of 25 per cent is feasible. Such a commitment is necessary to turn around the tanker of dependency.

In the two years before the general election, an average of one rehab unit closed each month. A progressive decline in statutory referrals, with the loss of about 1,000 beds, continues. Yet taxpayers are funding the continued dependency of the 98 per cent of addicts in so-called treatment, to the tune of billions of pounds. This process will continue if the Coalition leaves current commissioning arrangements for drugs and alcohol services in place under the direction of the National Treatment Agency, soon to be transferred to Public Health England.

Unless the Coalition takes action quickly, the Prime Minister’s call to help addicts to become clean, free of drugs and build new lives, will be thwarted.

Deirdre Boyd
CEO, Addiction Recovery Foundation 
Ed Smith
Director, Acorn Treatment and Housing 
Peter Walker
CEO, Addiction Recovery Agency 
Richard Johnson
Director, ANA Treatment Centres 
Ges Schofield
Manager, Ark House 
Derek Mace
CEO, Bosence and Boswyns 
Gina Dormer
CEO, Broadreach Group 
Brian Dudley
CEO, Broadway Lodge 
Clive Wolfendale
CAIS Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation 
Simon Stephens
Director of case work, Addictions UK 
Barnaby Guthrie
CEO, Clinical Partners 
Chip Somers
CEO, Focus12 
Wendy Dawson
CEO, Ley Community 
Anthony Massouras
Chairman, Mimosa Healthcare Group 
Ruth Allonby
CEO, Mount Carmel 
Jan and Carl de Vera Davey
CEOs, Open Minds 
Carl Edwards
Director, Park View Project 
James Peacock
Senior statutory coordinator, Perry Clayman Project 
John Grady
Director, Pierpoint Addiction Treatment 
Steve Spiegel
Director, Providence Projects 
Arlene Rodgers
Director, Quinton House 
Jon Harman
Director, Ravenscourt Trust 
Gavin Cooper
Managing director, Trust the Process 
Tom Kirkwood
CEO, TTP Recovery Communities 
Amanda Thomas
CEO, Western Counselling 
Ken Wiltshire
Director, Yeldall Manor 
Matthew Franzidis
Chief operating officer, Priory Healthcare

Further, it seems an important signatory to the concordat; The Salvation Army, was omitted from the letter it is added here for clarity,

The Salvation Army – Gloucester House Addictions Rehabilitation Centre (via Major Dean Logan).

The link to the letter can be found in the opening parag raph, and again here: Daily Telegraph

In the past, many in the medical profession have tended to view alcohol and depression as separate issues. However increasingly, research is showing that they are indeed strongly related to one another. In fact, after surveying over 14,000 people with early onset symptoms of both depression and alcohol dependence it was found that: "the relationship between depression and alcohol is quite strong, especially among women. When women experience symptoms of depression, they are at increased risk for alcohol dependence subsequently." This link is of increasing importance, given the fact that nearly twice as many women (12 percent) as men (7 percent) are affected by a depressive illness each year and that at some point during their lives, as many as 20 percent of women have at least one episode of depression that should be treated.

So is depression triggered by drinking alcohol, or do people turn to drinking once they begin to feel depressed? A spokesperson from Linwood Park, explains further: "As is well documented, alcohol is a depressant and a person who chooses to drink to excess on a regular basis will be exposing themselves to the continued depressive effects of alcohol. However there are many factors that can trigger both alcohol dependence and depression, including how a person chooses to ‘self-medicate' to cope with the stresses in their life, chemical imbalances in their body, the environment they live in and whether they have a family history of either alcoholism or depression.

"Whether the drinking began before the symptoms of depression, or a person began to drink to ‘get through the day', the fact remains that people who regularly drink alcohol in order to cope with difficult situations or emotions find that this form of ‘self medication' eventually leads to even more extreme situations and emotions. In fact, apart from affecting their mental health, consuming alcohol also affects a person's memory and brain function and can be linked to increased anxiety levels and panic attacks and in severe cases with paranoia and mental confusion."

Whether it is drinking alcohol or depression, the two are so inter-twined that it has been shown that the earlier in a person's life that either of these two disorders develops, the greater the chance that the other will also arise. So, what are some of the symptoms of both to look out for? Linwood Park has developed its Traffic Light System to provide a simple way of showing the symptoms of alcohol dependence. For depression, the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends looking out for at least five or six of the following symptoms:

• feeling unhappy most of the time (but may feel a little better in the evenings)
• losing interest in life and can't enjoy anything
• finding it harder to make decisions
• can't cope with things that you used to
• feeling utterly tired
• feeling restless and agitated
• losing appetite and weight (some people find they do the reverse and put on weight)
• taking 1-2 hours to get off to sleep, and then wake up earlier than usual
• losing interest in sex
• losing self-confidence
• feeling useless, inadequate and hopeless
• avoiding other people
• feeling irritable
• feeling worse at a particular time each day, usually in the morning
• thinking of suicide.

Due to the close relationship between alcohol and depression, treatment centres such as Linwood Park are increasingly developing treatment programmes tailored to treating both depression and alcohol related abuses. A spokesperson continues: "We have found that typically, depression associated with alcohol problems resolves itself when the alcohol dependency ceases; giving those struggling with alcohol dependency even more reason to seek help and support."

So, if you recognise any of the symptoms of alcohol dependence and depression in you or a family member, why not give us a call at Linwood park to get free, confidential, professional advice on taking those first steps on the road to recovery? Freephone: 0800 066 4173 or if you are calling from a mobile phone or from overseas, call 01226 698 054. Alternatively you can complete the form here on the web site, to be found at the foot of each page.

A recent report from the Department for Children, Schools and Families showed that parents completely misjudge the influence their drinking habits have on their children's attitudes to alcohol.  After questioning 4,000 young people and their parents, it was found that: ‘children were more likely to drink themselves if they grew up in a household where adults drink heavily.'  Although perceptions to alcohol consumption have shifted dramatically and drinking at home is now an acceptable social activity, more and more young people are being affected by their parents drinking habits.  In fact, it has been suggested that as many as 1 in 11 young people today live with parents who misuse alcohol.

Where in previous generations, alcohol was most likely to be consumed in a pub or bar, 21^st Century parents are increasingly choosing to drink behind closed doors. In fact, according to a survey of 3,000 ladies aged between 35-60 years old in the UK, women are drinking significantly more than their mother's generation; with one in ten of the women questioned admitting to having a drink every day.

Obviously the occasional drink at home with friends is not the issue, but when does the ‘odd tipple' become a problem?  What are the signs that your mum is not only drinking too much, but becoming addicted to alcohol Although alcoholism is traditionally seen as the preserve of ‘men of a certain age', we are seeing an increase in the number of women coming onto our treatment programmes as a result of being addicted to drinking alcohol. There are many reasons for why women are drinking more.  These range from a rise in social drinking, to more mum's using alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with the stresses of balancing work and family life.  Whatever the initial reason for turning to alcohol, the end result is that as a person becomes more dependent on alcohol the impact on their family and friends becomes increasingly destructive.  The good news is that once someone begins to acknowledge and seek help for their addiction to alcohol, there is a wide variety of treatment programmes available that offer hope and a future to not only them, but their families as well."

So, what are the signs that your mum is drinking too much and might need some sort of professional help?  The Government's recommended safe drinking levels for alcohol consumption for women is 14 units per week.  To give an idea of what this looks like in real terms, one alcohol unit equals one 25ml single measure of whisky, a third of a pint of beer or half a standard 175ml glass of red wine.  These 14 units should be spaced throughout the week and not consumed in one or two sessions.   If your mum is regularly exceeding these recommended safe drinking levels, then alcohol is becoming an issue and will affect her long-term emotional and physical health if steps are not taken to reduce consumption.

Addiction to alcohol is characterised by a range of symptoms such as a person's increased tolerance to the effects of alcohol, the presence of withdrawal signs and symptoms (such as shaking, sweating, increased anxiety when sober and/or nausea), an inability to control the quantity and frequency of their drinking and an impaired capacity to carry out day-to-day activities like they used to.  For more insight into safe drinking levels and to see if your mum is drinking too much, why not check out the Linwood Park Traffic Light measurement system?

Linwood Park is here for you to talk in confidence: talk through your mum's issues and we can discuss any possible treatment options.  Whichever course of action you choose, remember you are not alone in this, there is support out there, all you have to do is take the first step

For professional, confidential advice you can trust, why not call Linwood Park?  Call free on 0800 066 4173 (or if you are calling from a mobile phone or from overseas, call 01226 698 054).

The phrase ‘Saga Lout' was first coined back in 2007 when Dr Peter Rice, an expert in alcohol abuse, identified the increasing problem of elderly binge drinkers. Recent results from the Office for National Statistics have shown that the problem of alcohol abuse amongst the elderly is increasingly a cause for concern. In fact, it reported that the 65+ age group had "the highest figure for proportion of people who drank every day (15 per cent)." It also showed that there is a correlation between an increase in age and alcohol consumption: "The proportion of people who drink every day rises as age group rises. For example, 1 per cent of men and women aged 16 to 24 had drunk every day during the previous week, compared with 20 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women aged 65 and over."

So, why are the elderly increasingly turning to the drink? A Spokesperson from Linwood Park explains further: "The elderly of today are drinking far more than the generation before them. This can in part be explained by the fact that drinking in the home has become more socially acceptable over the past 30 years and that the comparative price of wine, beer and spirits has fallen significantly. In addition, home delivery services are now making it even easier to buy alcohol discretely.

"Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism when a person faces stress and for the elderly this can be anything from dealing with social isolation, ill health or bereavement to simply a change in lifestyle following retirement. The reason that the media has been slow to pick up on this growing trend of alcohol abuse in the elderly is that the majority drink in the privacy of their own homes, rather than publicly in the pubs and clubs."

Results from a survey commissioned by Foundation66, found that out of the 800+ over 60's questioned ‘13% said they drank more after retirement, despite the risks to their health'. So, why are alcohol and elderly consumers such a bad mix? Well, not only does a person's capacity to tolerate alcohol deteriorate with age, but the dangers of alcohol are increased among older drinkers, particularly because of medication, frailty, and other health problems. The Department of Health recommends that men and women should not regularly drink more than 21 units and 14 units respectively of alcohol a week; exceeding these limits means that older people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-induced memory problems and dementia. In addition, heavy drinking is associated with a raised risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, liver disease and certain cancers.

As drinking tends to be carried out in the privacy of the home and there are so few services set up specifically for late-onset drinking problems, the elderly might find it difficult to admit they have a drink problem or even see that their ‘harmless glass of wine' every day might be doing more damage than good. If asked, they would most likely say that they were social drinkers, and yet could not imagine dinner or a bad day without alcohol. If you are unsure if that drink or two you, or a loved one, is having are becoming a damaging habit, Sue Allchurch recommends the following: "Keep an alcohol diary for a week or two and see just how much alcohol is actually being consumed. It will very soon become apparent by doing a diary, if that ‘odd' drink is a regular occurrence or not."

To help identify if your drinking is becoming a problem rather than a pleasure, Linwood Park has set up a Traffic Light System. By checking through the symptoms, you will quickly be able to see whether you are on green, amber or red alert with your drinking levels.

If you are worried about alcohol abuse in an elderly family member or friend, what can be done about it? The first step is to seek professional advice. This could be simply making an appointment with your GP to get help and advice, or it could be calling an approved treatment centre to talk through your issues and any possible treatment options. The first step is always the hardest, so make the choice today not to let alcohol steal yours or your family's health any longer and make that call.

For professional advice on managing a drinking problem, then why not call Linwood Park on Freephone 0800 066 4173 (or if you are calling from a mobile phone or from overseas, call 01226 698 054) to find out how to get help sooner? Alternatively you can complete the form here on the web site, to be found at the foot of each page.