Alcohol-related problems cost the tax payer dear

A British Medical Journal study found for every £1 spent, £5 was saved from the bill for dealing with the consequences of drinking.

The UK Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT) involved more than 600 people with alcohol problems.

Heavy drinking in England and Wales is estimated to cost the tax payer around £18bn a year.

The researchers compared two treatments which both allow people to continue with their daily lives rather than staying in residential accommodation.

Alcohol treatment has been the Cinderella of healthcare for too long Geethika Jayatilaka

Social behaviour and network therapy helps people with alcohol problems to build social networks to support them in changing their drinking behaviour.

It involves up to eight 50-minute sessions with a therapist.

Motivational enhancement therapy is made up of three 50-minute sessions and combines motivational counselling with feedback on progress.

The team, including researchers from the University of Birmingham, University of York and Leeds Addiction Unit, found both types of treatment helped to cut alcohol consumption and dependency.

After three months of therapy, on average participants, nearly doubled their number of alcohol-free days, and cut their daily number of drinks by around a third.

Interviews carried out 12 months after the start of therapy showed that people were still drinking less, and reported improvements in their mental and physical wellbeing. On average they were 50% less likely to suffer from alcohol-related problems.

Reduced costs

A cost analysis concluded that the average cost of treating one person was £175 - but that treatment saved nearly £900 in reduced health and social care, including the impact on police and the criminal justice system.

Charity Alcohol Concern said more money now needed to be invested in treating alcohol abuse.

Geethika Jayatilaka, director of policy and public affairs, said: "Every year thousands of people access help and support from specialist alcohol services and are able to turn their lives around.

"But without adequate funding agencies are struggling to survive and there are still too many people who cannot access the treatment they need.

"Alcohol treatment has been the Cinderella of healthcare for too long.

"Lack of investment means that thousands of people are unable to access the help they need, putting their health at risk and adding to the burden on the rest of the NHS and the criminal justice system."