£1.5m For Belfast Alcohol Abuse Projects

£1.5m is to be spent over the next four years on projects to address the harm caused by alcohol abuse within the Belfast Trust area.

Health Minister Edwin Poots today officially launched four new projects to be funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Impact of Alcohol Programme.

The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has developed the new projects in partnership with four community-based agencies: Opportunity Youth, ASCERT, FASA and Addiction NI.

The four projects will include a crisis intervention service, interventions for those with harmful drinking habits, a youth information advice centre and a project aimed at victims of alcohol abuse over the age of 55.

Minister Poots said: "Alcohol misuse has a devastating impact on our society – first and foremost to the individuals directly affected, and their families and communities. But it also has a major impact on the health service, on social care, on the economy and on the criminal justice sector. Drug misuse often gets the headlines but alcohol remains our drug of choice.

"In fact, a report commissioned by my Department highlighted that alcohol misuse alone costs us up to £900m every year, and almost £250m of these costs are borne by the Health and Social Care Sector.

"I therefore welcome the fact that both the Belfast Trust and the Big Lottery Fund have recognised the impact that alcohol misuse has on our society, and I believe the comprehensive and strategic portfolio of projects that has been developed by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has the potential to have a positive impact on the lives of many people in the area."

(IT/CD)