12/05/2011 - Permalink

New alcohol support service launched

Related topics: Health

People concerned about their drinking can access a new support service at pharmacies in three Shropshire towns.

The pilot project is being run by a partnership between Shropshire Council’s drug and alcohol action team and the Shropshire Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) and will be available in Ludlow, Market Drayton and Oswestry.

People can pop into one of the pharmacies participating in the scheme to talk to a trained member of staff in confidence about their drinking habits and fill in a short questionnaire.  They will then receive information and advice about alcohol, and be offered further support if appropriate.

The project is the first of its kind in the county and will run until April 2012 in the following pharmacies:

Ludlow

  • Boots, Bull Ring
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, Upper Galdeford
  • Brown and Francis, Bull Ring

Market Drayton

  • Boots, Cheshire Street
  • Maer Lane Medical Centre Pharmacy

Oswestry

  • Boots, Church Street
  • Willow Street Pharmacy

Shropshire Council cabinet member for partnership working, Councillor Gwilym Butler, said:

“It’s important to deal with alcohol problems as soon as possible, and this service will make it easier for people to get support sooner rather than later.  It’s often a fine line between drinking socially and drinking too much, and anything we can do to offer more help is a positive thing.”