Alcohol Awareness Week is the perfect time to start conversations, raise awareness, and promote positive change around alcohol use. Derbyshire continues to experience higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions than many other parts of England. Alcohol is linked to over 200 health conditions and puts pressure on our NHS, social care, and emergency services.
Here are five things you can do if you are concerned about your own or someone else’s drinking.
- Track your drinking: Use a free app like the Lower My Drinking App- keep a daily diary of your alcohol use. This can help you see patterns, measure units, and stay accountable as a first step. If you’re concerned about someone else, recommend Lower My Drinking as a free and convenient way to track their own drinking. Find out more about Lower My Drinking: https://ow.ly/GnSt50WfVhQ
- Identify triggers: Reflect on what might be driving your drinking. Is it stress, social pressures, or specific people, places, or events? Identifying triggers, whether for yourself or someone else, is key to making changes.
- Start cutting back: Alcohol can make stress, anxiety, and low mood worse over time. Reducing your intake or taking a break can improve your wellbeing and help you address the underlying issues for lasting change.
- Talk to your GP: Share your concerns with your doctor, being honest about how much you drink. They can provide clear, safe, and practical advice tailored to your needs. If you’re supporting a loved one, encourage them to get a check-up from their GP and offer to accompany them.
- Seek support: Use our free digital Lower My Drinking app, open up to someone you trust, use our Specialist Alcohol Treatment Provider Derbyshire Recovery Partnership or connect with supportive networks like Growing Recovery in Derbyshire (our recovery network), AA, Smart Recovery, or Recovery Projects & Recovey Spaces. You don’t have to face this on your own, help and support is available, and people access it every day.
You don’t have to face this on your own, help and support is available, and people access it every day.
Learn More:
- Search “JSNA Alcohol Derbyshire” for local alcohol harm data.
- Search “Growing Recovery in Derbyshire” for support and recovery services.
