Huge hike in NI deaths from alcohol
Charity calls for urgent action to tackle the problem
Alcohol-related deaths in Northern Ireland have increased by 40% since records began, it has emerged.
In 2001, 178 people died from alcohol - a dramatic difference in the 303 total for last year.
Those figures were the highest-ever recorded here, resulting in the largest increase in drink-related deaths across the whole of the UK.
Alex Bunting, from Addiction NI, said urgent action was required to tackle the problem.
“We see people using alcohol to cope with stress – maybe poor mental health – or maybe blocking out past trauma.
“There is no doubt if you take the addiction away you will see broken people or people with issues that need to be addressed
“We need clear strategical leadership in tackling the problem with alcohol – you know you are looking at a problem which is costing Northern Ireland about £900m a year.”
Deaths from alcohol have increased for both men and women, with 61 females dying from alcohol in 2001, compared with 91 in 2017.
In contrast, 212 men died as a direct result of alcohol in Northern Ireland in 2017, the highest on record.
That is compared with 117 in 2001.