Number of Cannock underage drinkers admitted to hospital one of highest in country

New figures from Public Health England reveal youngsters were taken to hospital with alcohol-related problems 21 times in just 12 months.

It places Cannock in the top five per cent nationally for booze-related hospital admissions in the under-18s.

Staffordshire County Council health boss Alan White said steps were being taken to address the problem. He said there would be more investment in tackling alcohol misuse and nipping problems in the bud.

The figures also show Cannock is in the top 25 per cent of areas in the country for deaths directly due to alcohol and had a total of 646 alcohol-harm hospital stays in those aged between 15 and 64.

The stats relate to 2013/14.

And, according to Burton Addiction Centre, which will soon be opening a recovery house in the town, Cannock Chase is also battling with 13,900 binge drinkers.

Noreen Oliver, CEO at Burton, said: "Cannock has a high addiction problem and it is a problem that affects all of us. There are no recovery facilities in Cannock for Cannock residents who are wanting to integrate back into society.

"It is the first of its kind for the area and it is needed to get them off drugs completely, rather than substituting it."

Councillor White added: "By changing our approach to substance misuse, we estimate around 20 per cent or 400 more people will benefit from better, more joined-up services designed to treat their addiction, get them into recovery and help them gain the skills needed to contribute to their communities.

"Tackling and investing in drug and alcohol misuse has tremendous benefits to local communities.

"By helping people in recovery we can also reduce alcohol related crime, improve health and reduce the cost to local taxpayers."

Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson said the figures were worse than he thought.

"It just goes to show how important the new rehab centre is for the town," he said. "Anything we can do to help people in the area beat their addictions we need to do and as quickly as possible."

The district council recently gave the go-ahead to Burton Addiction Centre's recovery house for 91-93 High Green. It will be a 12-bedroom supported house for recovering addicts who have completed an abstinence-based rehabilitation and are alcohol and drug free. It will help service users access short term accommodation, education and skills training.