The Royal College of Psychiatrists is holding
its annual Faculty of Addictions Psychiatry Conference in
Wales for the first time today (3 May). To mark this momentous
occasion, the conference will be opened by Dr Tony Jewell, the
Chief Medical Officer for Wales.
In his opening speech, Dr Jewell will say:
"Addictions are a serious issue for Wales. They damage individuals,
families and communities and present a threat to the health of the
population. I am pleased to have been invited to address the Annual
Meeting of the Faculty of Addictions. I look forward to meeting
colleagues who use their skills and commitment to improve the lives
of people with addictions."
Dr Raman Sakhuja, Chair of the Addictions
Faculty of RCPsych in Wales, said: "The Royal College of
Psychiatrists in Wales welcome our Celtic and English Divisions to
Cardiff this year. We are honoured that Dr Tony Jewell will be
opening the Conference, an event that is particularly timely given
the recent publication of the Government’s Alcohol Strategy for
England and Wales."
Dr Sakhuja continued: "Alcohol related
problems in clinical settings are now very common. Not only do
psychiatrists see these issues every day in psychiatry wards and
within the community, but general hospital wards are also seeing
the harm caused by alcohol every day. We are delighted the
government is proposing a minimum unit price for alcohol in England
and Wales, but it is not enough on its own. It is important to look
at the broader picture in terms of alcohol marketing, publicity,
advertising and local licensing, and the effect of these on the
culture of drinking. I must emphasise that it is absolutely crucial
to invest in research for newer treatments for tackling alcohol
related harm, and that appropriate treatment options be made
available at every possible point of contact within the NHS."
Dr Marianne van den Bree, Chair of the
Addictions and Substance Misuse Mental Health Research Network
Cymru, will also speak at the conference on factors contributing to
substance misuse in young people. She says: "Substance misuse is
influenced by a number of risk factor domains, including the
family, the peer group, cultural and economic factors. Prevention
would therefore benefit from a multi-pronged approach. Raising the
price of alcohol is associated with lower levels of alcohol
consumption and alcohol-related problems, particularly in young
people and should be one of the elements of such a multi-pronged
approach."
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
Note to editors:
The Faculty of Addictions Annual Meeting takes place on 3-4 May at Holland House Hotel, Cardiff.