Alcohol abuse to be highlighted at online conference
A virtual conference for anyone wanting to understand more about alcohol and its impact on people and society takes place in November 2021.
Hosted by Share Shrewsbury, the online event will discuss the latest breakthroughs in research and treatment of alcohol dependence and will also hear from world class speakers sharing the best practice in recovery.
Share Shrewsbury: alcohol
It is organised by former councillor and Shrewsbury mayor Jane MacKenzie, who lost her daughter Amy to alcohol addiction in 2019.
Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, is set to speak, alongside Shropshire Recovery Partnership’s Julie Kenny and Kirsty Gossup. They will give an overview of the drug and alcohol services available in Shropshire and will reflect on the latest advances in treatment.
TV’s Adrian Chiles and journalist Camilla Tominey are among other high-profile names featured on the bill.
Sonya Jones, service manager and safeguarding lead for We Are With You, will highlight child alcohol abuse and criminal exploitation by addressing the deaths of two teenagers.
She said:-
“I shall emphasise early concerns which are an indication of trauma, and discuss two serious case reviews that report on the deaths of two boys. Both these boys had used alcohol to cope with the trauma of child criminal exploitation by county lines drug gangs.
“Liam was born March 2002 and died January 2020, whilst Jacob was born February 2003 and died April 2019.
“Jacob was highlighted in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme. Channel 4 News highlighted figures from the Child Safeguarding Review Panel that, over a two-year period, 47 children are killed or seriously harmed in incidents linked to criminal exploitation.
“I shall be giving an overview of data with regard to young people’s alcohol use in Shropshire and take an in-depth look at the work of the team at With You Shropshire. More young people are accessing support as the number of children treated for drug and alcohol use is on the rise in Shropshire.”
The safeguarding of vulnerable dependent drinkers will also be discussed, and the need for early intervention to interrupt the cycle of drinking, debunking the myth that sufferers need to reach rock bottom before they will respond to treatment.
The online conference takes part on Thursday 18 November 2021 and Friday 19 November 2021 and tickets start at £3. To find out more and book your place, click here.
