Overview

In this seven-year period, 53,200 cases were treated for alcohol as a main problem.

• The number of cases decreased from 7,819 in 2013 to 7,546 in 2019.
• The proportion of new cases decreased from 47.4% in 2013 to 43.7% in 2019.

Level of problem alcohol use

• In 2019, the median age at which cases first started drinking alcohol was 16 years.
• Almost seven-in-every-ten (68.1%) cases were classified as alcohol dependent. For a definition of alcohol dependence please see page 4.
• In 2019, 64.6% of new cases were classified as alcohol dependent as compared to 50.7% in 2013.
• The proportion of previously treated cases classified as alcohol dependent increased from 64.3% in 2013 to 75.3% in 2019.
• In 2019, 69.5% of males were classified as alcohol dependent, as compared to 65.9% of females.