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62
It is a fact that consumption of beer in the year ended March,
1970, rose by 11% and that of spirits by 3% while convictions
for drunken offences in England and Wales during 1969 increased
by almost 7% to a total of 106,894. As one would expect, persons
in those occupations connected with the "drinking" trade are most
vulnerable and the highest rates are to be found respectively in the
richest and poorest social classes.
How serious is alcoholism? Parliament's concern is reflected in
its grant of £2 million for improvement of facilities and counselling
but, generally speaking, the serious nature of this complaint is
lost upon most people. They are unaware that, during 1969, mental
illness hospitals and units in England and Wales admitted 5,890
males and 1,598 females whose diagnoses included alcoholism or
alcoholic psychosis and these figures did not include those treated
as out-patients or by G.P.s.
The tacit association between alcohol and tuberculosis has
assumed less importance with the decline in morbidity of the
latter but in America where much of the research in this field
is carried out, it is estimated that 25 - 50% of their tuberculosis
problem continues to be related to alcohol and its adverse effects
upon treatment.
Apart from its involvement with road traffic accidents alcoholism
occasionally gives rise to other illegal acts but perhaps some of
its most damaging effects are not quite so obvious. They flow
from important decisions local, national and international taken
by executives whose mental acuity and judgement may well have
been impaired by alcohol.
Following a sustained education programme, the next step in
prevention must be early detection. With their unique position
vis-a-vis the community, local G.P.s together with public health
department officers are admirably situated for this and the subsequent
tasks of co-ordinating information, after-care and research.
However, recognition of the problem's importance and a determination
to see its elimination have yet to be reconciled.
Cancer
Much has been written in previous Reports about modern
research into malignant disease (for upon its success will prevention
be made possible) but cancer continues to be today's greatest
challenge to our medical services.
Some indication of the growing seriousness of the situation
can be gained by reviewing some statistics relating to Greenwich
residents which, by and large, reflect the national trends.