Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Partly sunnyNews
| 
Submit Comments
advertisement
A&E kids booze shock
Exclusive by Adam Derbyshire16/ 4/2008
CHILDREN as young as 10 have been admitted to Tameside Hospital suffering from drink-related illnesses last year, it has been revealed.
More than 100 youngsters under 16 have been admitted to casualty because of booze in the past two years, figures show.
The catalogue of shame, obtained by the Advertiser under the Freedom of Information Act, highlights the worrying spread of binge drinking among youths.
Experts claim a "time bomb" is facing the young and warn that patients in their early 20s are being diagnosed with irreversible liver damage.
Alcohol abuse in Tameside dramatically increases as soon as children hit teenage years.
In total 157 children aged 13-16 were admitted to A&E between 2004 and 2007, compared to just 17 youngsters under 12 — although four of those were 10 and under.
In that period, more girls aged 13,14 and 15 have been taken to casualty to be treated for alcohol than boys.
Drug abuse remains relatively low in comparison. Only 24 children have been treated for illicit substances since 2004.
The number of under-16s treated for alcohol problems has steadily risen each year, with 32 admitted in 2004 and 53 last year.
But doctors admit they are facing a losing battle with young binge drinkers.
Dr Albert Massarano, paediatrician at Tameside Hospital, said: "We frequently see youngsters admitted, usually at weekend, having drunk too much.
"A 13-year-old girl was brought in after being found incapable at the roadside. Parents should know what their children are up to at night."
Dr Kailash Chand, Ashton GP, said: "I have been shouting and screaming about this for years. This is a serious problem in society. It is shocking that children aged 10 have required hospital treatment for alcohol. The culture must change.
"Primary school children need to be educated on the dangers of alcohol at a young age. They could die from liver failure. A child’s liver is not as robust as an adults, so binge drinking can have a catastrophic effect. The effects may lie dormant until their 40s, but continued alcohol abuse can lead to liver cirrhosis. And there’s no comeback from that.In the vast majority of patients I treat, the cirrhosis is drink-related."
Stopping the supply of alcohol is a constant headache for trading standards chief Dave Meakin.
He said: "The figures come as no surprise. We regularly patrol hotspots where youths congregate on the streets. Inevitably some drink to excess and end up in hospital.
"Our latest survey shows 50 per cent of alcohol seized in Tameside is bought from rogue shopkeepers, compared to 80 per cent a couple of years ago. So the message is getting through.However we increasingly find adults buying alcohol for under 18s instead. We are currently carrying our plain-clothed surveillance on several off licences to try to combat that."
Most recent 2 of 8 user comments
There are well behaved teenagers who can handle their drink and still behave in a civilized manner. Don't tar people with the same brush!
22/04/2008 at 13:27
Got an opinion you want to share?Motorists - are rising fuel prices tempting you to use public transport more?
Poll has now ended
| Card | Typical APR |
| Virgin Credit Card | 15.9% |
| Egg Card | 16.9% |
| Barclaycard Platinum | 14.9% |
| Barclaycard OnePulse For London | 14.9% |
| Capital One BT Exclusive | 13.9% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| FirstPlus Exclusive Rate | 6.6% |
| Moneyback Bank | 7.2% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 7.7% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Barclays | 7.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICESAVE Easy Access ISA |
6.10% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Direct ISA Issue 4 |
6.00% |
|
YORKSHIRE BS e-ISA |
5.55% |
I do not doubt that there are well behaved teenagers who can handle their drink and behave in a civilsed manner but the pity is that they seem to be in a minority and that they sadly get "tared with the same brush" .......... If we were all to admit it .... we probably all drank underage but we were brought up in an age where you respected other people rules, regulations and authority etc etc and if we did wrong and were caught we were punished appropriately and we therefore quickly learned not to do it again !!!
By the way ...... I have to say that your work on Tameside Eye should be read by the residents of this borough as it often provides a very enlightening insight in to goings on within our Council !! keep up the good work !!
25/04/2008 at 01:44