Town's alcohol awareness events

Cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and even brain damage are among more than 60 health conditions linked with over-consumption of alcohol.

Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service is holding a town centre Alcohol Awareness event today - to kick off Alcohol Awareness Week - at Sinclair House, from 12.20pm to 4pm, where people can drop-in to talk to staff, and pick up information on what their alcohol habits may mean for their health. There will be easy-to-keep reminders of the alcoholic units in popular drinks, scratch cards to check drinking levels, along with details on where to get help and who to contact if people are concerned about their drinking.

There will also be display boards and information at Aspire’s Bentley Hub at the Jade Centre on Askern Road, both tomorrow and Friday.

Aspire service manager Stuart Green said: “As well as providing support for people with drug and alcohol problems, we also work in partnership with our colleagues in Doncaster Public Health to raise awareness of the dangers these substances can cause.

“Alcohol is a causal factor in more than 60 medical conditions, including mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast cancers; diabetes, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver and depression.

“Drinking too much can also change the way the brain works and its physical shape and structure, which can cause changes in personality, thinking, mood, memory and thinking.

“This proves how important it is to get the alcohol awareness message into our local communities and show that help is out there.”

Visit Aspire’s live chat at www.aspire.community where you can also complete a screening test to check your levels of alcohol consumption against warning signs. Anyone who would like a confidential chat about drug or alcohol issues, call 01302 730956.