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Alcoholism

Volume 942: debated on Monday 23 January 1978

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any estimate of the number of young people who are alcoholic or who have drink problems; and what action his Department is taking to deal with the problem.

No reliable estimate is available, but I am seriously concerned about the growing evidence of alcohol abuse, particularly among young people. Prevention depends substantially upon the attitudes of society as a whole, and later this year the Health Departments will be publishing a consultative document to stimulate public debate on a range of preventive measures. Meanwhile the Health Education Council, with financial assistance from my Department, is conducting an experimental campaign in the North-East of England to promote a responsible attitude to alcohol. This is directed partly to young people, and we seek to learn which approaches are the most effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his most recent estimate of the number of homeless alcoholics and the current number of hostel places available for alcoholics; if he will give a list, together with the places to be made available in each one, of those hostels that are planned and when they will be in operation; and if he will make a statement on present or future progress.

There is no reliable estimate of the number of homeless alcoholics. 65 hostels for alcoholics with 703 places are supported with capital and/or revenue grant: another hostel to provide 20 places is being proposed and we await the local authority recommendation. Details are given below. There are also two local authority hostels providing 16 places. Voluntary organisations continue to show an interest in this scheme. The Department will consider any proposal where it can be established that there is a need and it is supported by the local authority.

(A) HOSTELS PREVIOUSLY IN THE HOME OFFICE AFTER CARE SCHEME
OrganisationAddress of HostelNumber of Places
Wayback FoundationCastle Close, Plymouth, Devon13
Salvation ArmyGloucester House, 6 High Street, Highworth.
Swindon, Wiltshire16
Spitalfields Crypt TrustChristchurch, Spitalfields19
Downham Lodge, 284 Amhurst Road, N.1012
Homeless Action and Accommodation.60 Settle Street, E.l7
Bow MissionClapham House, 302 Devons Road, E320
Helping Hand Organisation(1) Hartley House, 31 Madeley Road, W.512
(2) Giles House, 23 Grove Park, S.E.518
(3) Kenmore House, 31/32 Grove Park, S.E.510
(4) Richards House, Townley Street, Middleton, Lancs.8
Birmingham Diocesan CouncilProspect Hill House, 18 Wretham Road, Birmingham10
Royal London Aid Society1205 London Road, S.W.1616
Bridgehead Housing AssociationElleswick Lodge, Park Road, Newcastle on Tyne16
Bridgehead (Nottingham) Housing Association.25 Addison Street, Nottingham12
Alcoholics Recovery Project(1) Rathcoole House, 2 Ferndale Road, S.W.411
(2) 6 Lynette Avenue, S.W.47
(3) 12 Cranmer Road, S.W.9 (replaced by 6 places at 35 Camberwell New Road, S.E.5)4
Oxford and District Council on81 Cowley Road, Oxford5
Alcoholism.195 Iffley Road, Oxford9
Society of St. DismasSt. Aubyns House, 30/32 Cranbury Avenue,Southampton.14
Hampshire Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.35 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hants9
248
(B) HOSTELS SUPPORTED SINCE 1ST APRIL 1973
OrganisationAddress of HostelNumber of Places
St. Anne's Shelter and Housing Action Ltd.40 Kelso Road, Leeds12
16 Kendal Lane, Leeds4
St. Marks House, 186 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds20
2 Hillcrest Avenue, Leeds8
3 Inglewood Terrace, Leeds9
114 Markham Avenue, Leeds4
Alcoholics Recovery Project39 Haselrigge Road, S.W.46
6 Lynette Avenue, S.W.47
19 Cavendish Road, S.W.48
51 Rosenthal Road, S.E.610
105 Howson Road, S.E.46
35 Camberwell New Road, S.E.5 (replacement for 4 places at Cranmer Road)6
Helping Hand Organisation4 Glevelands Road, Prestwich12
63 Whitstable Road, Canterbury12
Miliken House, 116 Argyle Road, Ealing, W.137
27 Hoole Road, Chester12
4 Edward Street, Oldham12
Allen House CharityAllen House, 112 Aldwick Road, Bognor Regis, Sussex.10
Hampshire Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.38/40 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hants.16
Church Army23 Plymouth Grove, Manchester6
172 Plymouth Grove, Manchester10
Birmingham Diocesan CouncilProspect Hill House, 20 Wretham Road, Birmingham10
Avon Council on Alcoholism21 Tyndalls Park Road, Bristol21
Fairmeadow Hostel Committee10/11 Fairmeadow, Maidstone, Kent14
Scunthorpe Committee for Alcoholism.6 Old Crosby, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire7
Hastings Hostel Ltd25, 27, 29 Lower Hastings Street, Leicester17
Anac House Project4 Meriden Street, Coventry9
Kenward TrustKenward House, Yalding, Kent10

Organisation

Address of Hostel

Number of Places

Westminster Advisory Centre on Alcoholism.12 Aldrington Road, S.W.169
Thamesdown North Wilts Council on Alcoholism.Touchdown Guest House, Wooton Basset, Wilts.20
Devon Council on AlcoholismArden House, Union Road, Crediton13
AquariusPebble Mill House, Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham15
1 Connaught Road, Wolverhampton13
4 St. Georges Street, Northampton10
Salvation ArmyBooth House Detoxification Unit, Whitechapel Road, E.l11
Alcoholic Assessment Unit, Garford Street, E.420
Alcoholic Wing, William Booth House, Great Passage Street, Hull10
Society of St. Dismas3 Cranbury Avenue, Southampton8
Bow MissionClapham House Annexe, 302A Devons Road, E.324
1 Merchant Street, E.324
24 and 172 Burdett Road, E.324
Spelthorne St. Mary55 Milton Road, Harpenden, Herts17
455
(C) HOSTEL PROPOSED

Organisation

Address of Hostel

Number of Places

Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire Council on Alcoholism.46 Ullet Road, Liverpool20

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many detoxification units are now in operation; where are they located; how many individuals each has treated; what other units are planned; and when these will come into operation.

Two; one each at Leeds and Manchester respectively. Up to 31st December 1977, the Leeds centre has admitted 498 individuals. The Manchester centre, opened in November 1977, had admitted 37. A third centre in London is expected to open later this year. Detoxi

Health DistrictHospitalUrgent CasesNon-urgent Cases
Canterbury and ThanetKent and CanterburyNormally no delay13–17 weeks
Faversham Cottage14 weeks
Queen Victoria Memorial. 120 weeks
Isle of Thanet District:
Ramsgate Wing6 weeks
Margate Wing12 weeks
Dartford and Gravesham West Hill*:
Consultant A8 weeksChildren: 9 weeks
Adults: 24 weeks
Consultant B4 weeks19 weeks
Consultant CNormally no delay16 weeks
(Special orthopaedic hand clinic—2 weeks)
Gravesend and North Kent:
Consultant A3 weeks7 weeks
Consultant B2 weeks8 weeks
MaidstoneWest Kent GeneralAbout27 weeks
Preston Hall1 week16 weeks

fication is carried out in many general and psychiatric hospitals as part of their normal work and by some voluntary bodies.