The number of people dying as a direct consequence of drinking alcohol hitting a record number in Oxfordshire is "very worrying", says a health service.
This comes as the latest figures from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities show there were 87 deaths in Oxfordshire wholly caused by alcohol consumption in 2023.
This was up from 66 deaths the year before, and was the highest since comparable records began in 2006.
The pandemic caused a significant rise in these deaths with last year's figure up 42 per cent on 2019.
The rate of alcohol mortality across the country also reached its highest level at 15 deaths per 100,000 people.
Oxfordshire had a mortality rate of 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people.
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Andy Symons, senior operations manager for Turning Point, told us the increase in deaths is "very worrying".
He said he has seen an increase in the amount of people using Turning Point, which is an all purpose drug and alcohol treatment service with a number of hubs across Oxfordshire.
The service treats more than 1,000 people per year and has hubs in Oxford, Didcot, Banbury and Witney.
"You realise alcohol is a big problem and it can be very difficult when someone wants to reduce or stop.
"[Deaths] are increasing, it is very worrying and we are very concerned."
However, he said the service is seeing a lot of people successfully reducing what they are drinking and successfully cutting out alcohol.
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Mr Symons added: "New year's is a great time for people to think about those new year resolutions - I think many people as they are taking out the recycling after Christmas will be hit by how much how they are drinking, quite often people aren't quite aware."
He added alcohol can become a habit such as reaching for a bottle of wine after work, and that the service is encouraging more people to think about their alcohol use, particularly at this time of year.
Dr Richard Piper, Alcohol Change UK chief executive, said: "Every time someone dies from alcohol, it is an avoidable tragedy."
He added: "And there are millions of us whose lives are negatively affected by alcohol, be that through hangovers, over-spending, under-performing at work, or just not being fully present for our friends or family.
"None of this is inevitable, and we are seeing a growing acceptance, particularly among younger generations, that alcohol is an optional, not essential, part of our lives. These cultural shifts are possible and even more so when systemic changes are made."
He said the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan needs "real teeth", particularly to deliver on its pledge to halve deaths from the "biggest killers" such as cancer, suicide and cardiovascular disease, for which alcohol is a major risk factor.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the record level of alcohol deaths is "unacceptable".
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They added: "Our 10-Year Health Plan will shift the focus of the NHS from sickness to prevention.
"This means prioritising public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives."
More about Turning Point can be found here: https://www.turning-point.co.uk/services/oxfordshire
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