Alcohol

Views

A 60-minute focus group was conducted in January 2023 with individuals, who has successfully completed the rehabilitation programme or were currently undertaking it, at North Tyneside’s treatment and recovery service. Table x shows the key themes from the focus group.

Table 1: Summary of key points raised during January 2023 Focus Group

Theme Key Points
Alcohol Treatment

Crisis team strongly promoting NTRP.

Referrals to NTRP were quick and efficient.

Overwhelmingly positive experiences regarding Oaktrees.

Main barrier to accessing treatment was the individual’s own motivation and readiness to accept treatment.

Suitable childcare arrangements should be offered to ensure parents can attend Oaktrees Day Centre.

Awareness of NTRP could be improved in frontline staff (primary & secondary care, police, and social services).

Leaflets regarding NTRP should be made available in healthcare settings.
Alcohol-Related Services

Positive experiences with NTRP Smart Recovery 4-point programme and P.A.U.S.E. at Meadow Well Connected.

PROPS had improved family relationships of service users.

Some users thought they were unable to access PROPS until under NTRP.

AA meetings can be intimidating due to jargon.
Healthcare Services

Mixed experiences reported when encountering healthcare professionals in community and hospital-based settings.

Negative attitudes received from healthcare staff increased the likelihood of the individual disengaging with the healthcare service.
Other Services Mixed experiences reported with police service and Jobcentre staff.
Alcohol Availability

Alcohol advertising particularly challenging for managing alcohol misuse and recovery.

Television adverts by alcohol industry felt to be misleading and not showing alcohol harms.

Supermarket/shop alcohol availability challenging with alcohol beverages dispersed around multiple areas of the store rather than in a single aisle.

Mixed thoughts regarding alcohol-free drinks – some individuals avoided it due to similarity to alcohol whilst others able to consume alcohol-free drinks without issue.

 

Views from professionals involved in alcohol-related services have been gathered through informal discussions throughout the HNA process. An Adult Treatment Service away day in 2022 provides further key points on current challenges they are experiencing. Key themes are outlined in Table 2. 

Table 2: Summary of key points raised from informal discussion with professionals during health needs assessment

Theme Key Points
Population

Change to demographics of those requiring healthcare / treatment for alcohol – increasing younger people, increasingly people of all socioeconomic statuses.

Many have combined drug and alcohol misuse.

Change in drinking pattern consumptions since COVID-19 pandemic – generally increased. 

Increased complexity of service users, 
Current Treatment Service

Concerns that Treatment Service doesn’t suit everyone – some individuals hesitant due to Drug and Alcohol Service - a solely alcohol service is not available.

Lack of out of hours Treatment Service restricting access.

Increasing cost of living impacting on service engagement – marked reduction in treatment group attendance due to travel costs. 

Mixed group sessions at NTRP doesn’t suit all individuals.

Those with young children less likely to engage in treatment services due to concerns regarding social services involvement.

NTRP Recruitment issues leading to high caseloads and difficulties completing intensive service user work. 
Collaborative Working

Difficulties in joint working with Community Treatment Teams and Talking Therapies.

Difficulties in joint working with Community Treatment Teams and Criminal Justice Team. 

 

A workshop was held in December 2024, with professionals in North Tyneside to explore the experience of older people and substance misuse. The workshop aimed to explore all substance misuse, but it was found in this cohort that alcohol misuse was most prevalent. Key themes from the workshop and areas of focus that emerged from the workshop findings included:

  • Stigma and awareness can prevent older individuals from seeking help for substance misuse. This can include public and professional attitudes to older people and addiction.
  • Accessibility and suitability of services to account for physical and cognitive challenges. Considering home visits and community-based services important to improve accessibility.
  • Integration and collaboration, including the voluntary sector and more co-design with older adults.
  • Education and training for frontline professionals, as well as education campaigns to raise awareness.
  • Challenges, including competing health issues, loneliness, generational attitudes, misdiagnosis of addiction-related health issues and easier access to alcohol.
  • Practical solutions identified such as more access to personalised outreach and one-to-one support and incorporating questions about substance misuse in other health services (e.g. NHS Health Checks).
  • Funding and Policy; the need permanent funding to sustain services and improve pathways
  • Social inclusion and engagement and consider addressing social norms and misconceptions of addiction in older adults.