Record UK alcohol deaths in 2022
Data released today reveals that a record number of 10,048 people died in the UK in 2022 as a direct result of their drinking.
The number of alcohol-specific deaths in the UK has increased 32.8% since 2019, with 16.6 per 100,000 people now dying wholly due to alcohol, with alcohol a contributing factor in the loss of many other lives.
“In July 2022, the alcohol took over, and my dad lost his battle. He died alone in hospital. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I was left to deal with an overwhelming influx of conflicting emotions: sadness, guilt, anger, regret and relief.”
Lois
Bereaved families
In the wake of each life lost lies a family struggling to pick up the pieces.
“News of further increases in alcohol deaths is devastating to hear for children’s charities like us, who witness the daily impacts of parental addiction on children. Alcohol problems affect the whole family. Behind these statistics are mothers and fathers whose children will have been living with the chaos of someone else’s drinking.”
Hilary Henriques MBE, Chief executive of Nacoa UK
The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males is double that for females (22.3 and 11.1 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively), however, female alcohol deaths have increased by 42% in that time (7.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2019).
Requests for help to Nacoa from callers bereaved due to a parent’s drinking have risen sharply from 29% in 2020 to 39% in 2023.
Annual calls to the Nacoa helpline climbed to over 33,000 in 2023.
“It’s been so hard to watch my niece and her two children go through this over the years – even harder to watch them walk behind their dad’s coffin last week. Thank goodness there are organisations like Nacoa to help.”
Helpline caller
Let down by government
Despite the urgent need for support, the government strategy for children of alcohol-dependent parents was cut in 2021. MPs and charities have written to the health minister Rt Hon. Andrea Leadsom MP asking her to re-prioritise these children.
“We need systematic change to protect children and their families from alcohol harm. The government must create a new alcohol strategy to tackle alcohol harm and include specific measures to support families and protect children.”
Professor Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance
Whilst the government has reported investing £267 million into drug and alcohol treatment services, no funds have been ring-fenced for dedicated services for children and families. Right now, there is no direct plan in place to support those experiencing this mental distress and abuse.
Emily, 11-years-old, has also written to the government pleading for help:
“Please change the law around alcohol and help children like me so not as many people end up like this. If you even care about lives and want to save more people, then the NHS won’t be so busy! Please I beg you! Please help Nacoa to help children of alcoholics so they can be happyer [sic] and have someone to understand them. I miss my dad so much and so does my brother. I would be so happy if you help us all please.”
Without support, we know that these are some of the most vulnerable children you can imagine in the United Kingdom. Being much more likely to develop addictions themselves, as well as struggle in school, be in trouble with police, develop an eating disorder, or consider suicide. At Nacoa, we strive to help them take a different path.
For help and advice, see Coping with the death of a parent who had an alcohol problem or contact the Nacoa helpline.
“My counsellor has termed my grieving process as ‘complex grief’ due to the large variety of emotions that a child of an alcoholic parent experiences.”
Hattie
