Three Quarters Of Island Alcohol Dependents Not Receiving Treatment

Nearly three quarters of Islanders dependent on alcohol are not in formal treatment, new Isle of Wight Council figures show.

There is a roughly one in three successful completion rate for alcohol therapy and over half of those with an opiate or crack dependency are not in structured treatment, according to County Hall’s latest data.

Around a quarter of non-opioid drug users have left treatment successfully, compared to just over seven per cent for those using opioids.

Cllr James Whelan, Reform UK chair of the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee, said that while some of the figures are similar to, and in a few cases better than the national average, they are still ‘deeply concerning’.

“Many of the people affected have complex and overlapping needs, often compounded by addiction, which makes finding the solutions particularly challenging,” he said.

“There is no single fix. We need to listen to partners and stakeholders, but most importantly to those families and individuals that have actually been through or currently receiving assistance through these services and programmes.

“Their experiences can help us understand what works, what doesn’t, and where we can improve the system.”

Cllr Ed Blake, of the Conservatives, said: “These figures underline the ongoing challenge posed by drug and alcohol dependency on the Isle of Wight.

“While many people are receiving valuable support, there are still too many Islanders who are not engaging with formal treatment services.

“We must continue to reduce stigma, raise awareness of available help and support early intervention, while recognising the excellent work carried out by treatment providers, voluntary organisations and families supporting people in recovery.”

Cllr Claire Critchison, of the Green Party, said the levels of unmet need for drug and alcohol treatment across the Island are ‘concerning’ but that it is good to see success rates for those in structured treatment is positive.

“We must get more of those affected by alcohol into programmes to assist their dependence and also their mental health,” she said.

“On a national level, Greens advocate for replacing the criminal prohibition of drugs with a tightly regulated, evidence-based public health framework, thus ending the ‘war on drugs’ by removing criminal penalties and instead treating problematic drug use as a health and social issue rather than a crime.”

An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said that while the figures help it understand where progress is being made and where more work is needed, it is ‘important’ to remember the impact of drugs and alcohol can be ‘complex’.

“We are looking at small numbers, and this means percentages can sometimes look like large changes when the actual difference is quite small,” they said.

“Public health works closely with partners through the Island Strategic Drug and Alcohol Partnership to promote prevention, early help, reducing stigma and providing joined-up support for people affected by drugs and alcohol.

“People with more complex needs can face additional barriers to accessing treatment and support. This is why it is important that organisations work together to provide consistent, trauma-informed support and help people get the treatment and wider services they need.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has contacted all political groups sitting on the council’s public health committee.