Glasgow kid, 9, had brain damage from drinking booze (From … – Glasgow Evening Times

CHILDREN as young as nine-years-old are being treated for alcohol-related brain damage in Glasgow, the Evening Times can reveal.

Along with dozens of children, thousands more adults have also received help from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) in the past six years.

They have been admitted to hospital for mental and behaviour problems relating to alcohol addiction and, including psychotic disorders, withdrawal, delirium, harmful use of alcohol and alcohol dependence.

It comes as alcohol campaigners have called for booze adverts to be banned before 11pm, and magazine and newspapers adverts for drinks to be restricted.

In total since January 2011, more than 17,000 people, including 163 children, have been treated for some form of alcohol-related brain damage.

Figures obtained by the Evening Times show a nine-year-old boy was the youngest person to be treated for a mental or behaviour disorder due to drinking alcohol by NHSGGC.

The youngster was first seen by doctors in 2012.

There have also been 69 girls and 93 boys, ranging from 13 to 17-years-old, who received treatment since 2011.

Of the 17,224 adults suffering from some type of alcohol-related brain damage, the largest group (around 7400 people) were between 45 and 64 years old.

Almost 5000 adults aged between 25 and 44 were admitted to hospital at least once suffering from physical and mental problems caused by drinking, while almost 4000 over 65s received treatment for the same problems.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "ARBD (Alcohol Related Brain Damage) is the term used to describe a number of serious medical conditions where the function of the brain is impaired as a result of prolonged alcohol misuse.

"These include Wernicke-Korsakoffs syndrome, alcohol related dementia, and amnesic syndrome.

"The West of Scotland has the highest rate of Korsakoffs in Western Europe and was previously most common in males over the age of 50.

"However cases of ARBD are now being seen in people in their twenties or thirties, as a result of earlier onset of alcohol misuse and poor nutrition.

The effects of ARBD can often be reversed if patients receive the right treatment and support. In order for patients to have the best chance of making a full recovery, however, this treatment has to be given within two years of their diagnosis. After this short window of opportunity, any improvement is likely to be small."

Alison Douglas, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: Glasgow has the highest rate of alcohol-related hospital stays in Scotland; more than double the rate in Dumfries and Galloway.

It is particularly concerning that so many children and young people need hospital treatment because of their drinking.

Childrens bodies and brains are still developing so even small amounts of alcohol can have serious consequences.

As well as being a major cause of illness, injury and premature death, alcohol damages families and communities, and costs our public services millions of pounds.

To prevent so many people needing hospital treatment because of alcohol, we need to tackle the cheap prices, easy availability and constant promotions which encourage us to drink too much.

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Glasgow kid, 9, had brain damage from drinking booze (From ... - Glasgow Evening Times