"Alcoholism"

My brother-in-law was referred to East Surrey Hospital after many years of alcohol abuse. He was suicidal and in a very poor physical state. He had been drinking one bottle of vodka a day and was in a lot of pain physically and mentally.

He had suffered extreme DT's in the past when he attempted to stop drinking. His Doctor was delighted when the hospital agreed to take him. He was assessed initially when he arrived at the hospital and they recommended a vitamin drip and other drugs to stabilise him. After this initial assessment he was made to wait for many hours when he was then informed that he would be sent home with the advice (in writing) that he should carry on drinking as it would be unsafe to stop.

We informed his Doctor who then got in touch with the consultant. The consultant said that the NHS does not fund detox. He was duly sent home with no vitamins (many alcoholics are vit b deficient which leads to brain disorders) and the only advice given by the now despairing Doctor was to attend and addiction clinic some 10 miles way.

My brother-in law then got drunk and drove to the local supermarket to buy more drink and got caught for drink driving ( with a reading of 148). He now faces job loss and no way out.

How sad that this country is only too glad to take the taxes from alcohol sales but has no interest in treating the repercussions from it. Alcohol is the most harmful drug we have it's about time we as a nation wised up to this and stop treating all as a joke.