Supporting people who drink to reduce harm from alcohol

With alcohol harms at record levels and people from more deprived communities suffering disproportionately, a crucial part of the Balance approach is to help people who drink to reduce the harm from alcohol.

We work closely with a wide range of partners, including treatment services, the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board and OHID, to support those most at risk from harm, including increasing and higher-risk and dependent drinkers.

We promote the delivery of evidence-based interventions and treatment options and share research and data, which provide insights into drinking habits and motivations to cut down across the North East population.

We also engage closely with local partners around amplifying Balance campaigns and provide a platform for spokespeople and advocates from across the system, including clinicians, to support Balance campaigns and call for action to reduce alcohol harms.

We also work closely with people of lived experience and sobert groups in order to give a voice to those impacted by alcohol and work with them to bring their stories out into the open, aimed at reducing stigma and hope to people struggling with alcohol issues – either themselves or a loved one.

Priority groups include:

• Children and young people / young carers
• People with lived experience of alcohol harm
• People suffering from multiple addictions / co-morbidities
• Victims of domestic abuse
• Underserved communities