AN ADDICTION service in Hull is seeing alcoholics who drink more than 200 units per week – the equivalent of a bottle of vodka per day.
The shocking statistic was presented to Hull North MP Diana Johnson when she visited the centre in Baker Street yesterday.
Humber NHS Foundation Trust's addiction service revealed it sees between 500 and 600 people per year – many of who are serious drinkers.
"Most of the people the centre sees are in their forties and male," said Ms Johnson.
"And 70 per cent of the service users have additional mental health problems.
"It seems to me, this group are likely to be on benefits in rented accommodation."
The centre sees about 200-plus people on its inpatient unit every year.
Staff offer a range of services, including medical support, to help in recovery and rehabilitation.
But the alarming figures are not surprising for a large northern city, according to staff at the centre.
Consultant nurse Tom Phillips said: "Hull is no different to any other large city in the north – our statistics are no more startling than anywhere else."
And rather than it being people at the bottom of the economic ladder, those with serious alcohol dependency problems tend to have more money to spend.
Mr Phillips said: "If people have more disposable income, they have more money to spend on the thing they are addicted to.
"The simplest solution is to increase the price of alcohol."
