West Lothian - Tobacco, Alcohol, & Drugs Information

West Lothian Drug Action Team

The West Lothian Drug Action Team (WLDAT) is one of 22 DATs across Scotland. Drug Action Teams are the focal point for local action on alcohol and drug misuse. WLDAT also include tobacco in their remit.

Local Alcohol and Drug Information 2008

This compendium of local statistics on alcohol and drug use brings together local data from available national sources. The statistics cover both newly analysed data and previously published data broken down for each local Council area. The worksheet includes quick links (in blue) to the various data and tables.

Local Needs Assessment 2007

A Needs Assessment by Dawn Griesbach in 2007 (Services for Tobacco, Alcohol & Drug Users in West Lothian), estimated that

44,853 (28%) of the West Lothian population smoke
32,059 (20%) exceed weekly alcohol limits
1,025 people are problem drug users (1.11%)

Young People's Substance Use

Findings from interviews with school pupils across Scotland give some indication of the patterns of substance use amongst young people. The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS 2006) shows a high proportion of young people reporting not smoking, not drinking to excess or using drugs in West Lothian. However there are a number of 13 year olds and 15 year olds who do report smoking regularly, drinking excessively or using drugs.

Smoking

4% of 13 year olds and 18% of 15 year olds report being regular smokers
70% of 13 year olds and 45% of 15 year olds have never smoked
Girls are significantly more likely to be regular smokers than boys in West Lothian and in Scotland.
On average people are 12 years old when they start smoking in West Lothian.
There has been a significant decrease in the number of 13 year olds who are regular smokers, but no change amongst 15 year olds.

The Smoking Atlas produced by Portsmouth University for NHS Health Scotland & ScotPHO is available on the ScotPHO website and local estimated figues for Intermediate Zones in West Lothian are attached in a spreadsheet.

Drinking

Why alcohol needs to be a key priority

Scots across all ages and socio-economic groups, are drinking to excess. The resultant health and social harm statistics are stark:

Estimates show that there are approximately 25,000 problem drinkers living in West Lothian.
63% of men and 57% of women report consuming more than the recommended weekly drinking guidelines.
It is estimated that there are at least 3,345 children in West Lothian living with problem alcohol users.
In the last seven years West Lothian has seen a 30% increase in the number of alcohol-related discharges from hospital, and alcohol-related deaths are at an all time high.
11% of 13 year olds and 30% of 15 year olds report drinking alchol at least once a week. There has been a slight decrease in drinking frequency since 2002.
5% of 13 year olds and 17% of 15 year olds have had five drinks or more on 4 or more occasions in a 30 day period.
There has been a 3% increase in number of 15 year olds drinking to excess since 2002.

Drug use

5% of 13 year olds and 11% of 15 year olds have tried drugs once.
92% of 13 year olds and 72% of 15 year olds have never tried drugs.
1% of 13 year olds and 3% of 15 year olds use drugs at least once a week.
Cannabis is the main illicit drug of choice.
There has been a significant decrease in the number of young people who have been offered drugs since 2002.

Smoking prevalence in West Lothian, by postcode sector (2001 Estimates)
Postcode sector	Estimated smokers (% of total population) West Lothian 34.0%
EH27 8 Kirknewton; Linburn	27.7%
EH47 0 Whitburn N	43.2%
EH47 7 Blackburn; Seafield	40.2%
EH47 8 Whitburn S; Stoneyburn	36.4%
EH47 9 Fauldhouse	40.3%
EH48 1 Bathgate E; Boghall	35.5%
EH48 2 Armadale E; Bathgate W; Whiteside	36.2%
EH48 3 Armadale W; Westfield; Blackridge	36.8%
EH48 4 Bathgate N; Torphichen	35.9%
EH49 6 Linlithgow S; Bridgend; Philipstoun	26.0%
EH49 7 Linlithgow N - Linlithgow Bridge; Boghall	22.1%
EH52 5 Broxburn S	32.8%
EH52 6 Broxburn N; Winchburgh; Dechmont	34.8%
EH53 0 East Calder; Mid Calder	28.7%
EH54 5 Livingston - Craigshill; Houstoun Industrial Est.	43.9%
EH54 6 Livingston - Ladywell; Howden; Almondvale; Dedridge	36.2%
EH54 7 Livingston Village; Kirkton	22.8%
EH54 8 Livingston - Deans; Knightsridge; Nether Dechmont	35.4%
EH54 9 Livingston - Brucefield; Nether Williamston; Bellsquarry	19.0%
EH55 8 West Calder; Polbeth; Addiewell; Tarbrax	35.2%
Shaded rows denote areas where the estimated smoking prevalence is higher than the average for West Lothian. Source: PHIS (2003) West Lothian - A community health and well-being profile

Number of alcohol related hospital discharges, by sex: 1999/00 - 2004/05
	1999/00	2000/01	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05P	Percent change 1999/00-2004/05
Scotland
Both Sexes	33,580	33,413	35,449	37,490	37,553	40,534	21%
Male	24,220	23,974	25,208	26,851	26,965	29,316	21%
Female	9,360	9,439	10,241	10,639	10,588	11,218	20%
Lothian
Both Sexes	4,373	4,540	5,049	4,861	4,810	4,970	14%
Male	2,920	2,974	3,323	3,187	3,202	3,335	14%
Female	1,453	1,566	1,726	1,674	1,608	1,635	13%
West Lothian
Both Sexes	764	836	941	1,002	1,016	994	30%
Male	523	548	622	677	703	682	30%
Female	241	288	319	325	313	312	29%
Source: SMR01

West Lothian - Tobacco, Alcohol, & Drugs Information

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