INVERCLYDE has had the highest alcohol-related death rate in Scotland over the last five years — with another 28 people losing their lives to booze in the last 12 months alone.

Greenock Telegraph:

The shocking figure equates to at least two people dying from alcohol-related issues in the district every month.

A National Record of Scotland report has revealed that numbers who have died from drink-linked illnesses in Inverclyde since 2018 now stands at 139 — an average of 27 each year.

Those who lost their lives due to alcohol-related issues in the district rose from 26 in 2021 to 28 lat year.

Greenock Telegraph:

And in a key measure used to determine the impact, it showed Inverclyde has the highest age-standardised morality rate of 32.8 over a period of five years, followed closely by Glasgow.

The stark statistics have sparked a call for action from a leading charity working in Inverclyde.

Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAAD) wants those affected by drink illneses to have greater access to better treatment services, which have been affected by cuts to alcohol and drug partnerships (ADPs) over the last decade.

Greenock Telegraph:

SFAAD chief executive Justina Murray said: "We are very proud of the services we provide in Inverclyde and would like to thank Inverclyde Alcohol and Drugs Partnership for commissioning our services because not every area in the country takes the work we do so seriously.

"Inverclyde has been commissioning our services since November 2020 and that is a good step.

"We do a lot of work in Inverclyde with families and those affected. It is so sad after the rise in drugs deaths in Inverclyde which was devastating.

"We are seeing the impact of the cuts to alcohol and drug partnerships in Scotland with a 40 per cent reduction in treatment services.

"But in recent years there has been a focus on drug related deaths while alcohol deaths are played down.

"We see every day the devastating impact drugs and alcohol both have on those affected."

The new figures represent is a double blow for Inverclyde coming on the back of last week's revelations that drug deaths have also risen.

SFAAD CEO Ms Murray said: "I think one of the problems with alcohol related illnesses is that it is more accepted, it is not considered an emergency the way drug deaths have been. Alcohol deaths are played down.

"People with alcohol related illnesses are hiding in plain sight and for many families it can be even worse than those affected by drugs. Alcohol in our society is everywhere, it is part of our culture and is normalised in a way drugs is not.

"What we need is more access to specific alcohol services whether that is counselling and support services, rehab or the AA.

Ms Murray is also worried about the glamorisation of alcohol and marketing directed at women as deaths among females rise.

She said: "Female deaths are on the rise and that hasn't been the case before. But On tv and in advertising it shows women with a glass of wine or a bottle after a hard day."

Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board chairman, Councillor Robert Moran, who has family members and friends affected has also called on people suffering from alcohol addiction not to suffer in silence and reach out for help.

Councillor Moran said: "Alcohol abuse is so accepted and there are people out there drinking themselves to death and we don't even know, it is not always visible like drugs. They can function and carry on working.

"Alcohol-related deaths tend to be chronic conditions affecting the liver and pancreas, it happens over a long period of time."

Anyone affected by drugs and alcohol are urged to contact Inverclyde Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs Family Support Service on 01475 302 816.