FOLLOWING the recent publication of shocking Public Health England data on the effects of the town’s alcohol abuse, addiction experts are calling on Bolton Council and others in the North West to “listen to the numbers” and take vital steps to combat the crisis by investing more in alcohol treatment services and intervention and awareness campaigns.

This months marks the end of the Greater Manchester-wide Big Alcohol Conversation campaign, which launched in December.

The initiative, which is backed by the GM mayor Andy Burnham, and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, invited residents and businesses to share their views on reducing harms caused by alcohol.

As part of the campaign a Big Bus Roadshow has been conducted around Greater Manchester, stopping in Bolton last week, to spread information and encourage people to take part.

The views gathered during the last three months will then contribute to a regional action plan, Ambition For Alcohol, to be published later this year. To take part in the survey visit www.thebigalcoholconversation.org.

Support and advice to help overcome yours or a loved one’s alcohol addiction is available from:

- Bolton’s Single Point of Access Team by telephone on 01204 483101

- Drinkline on 0300 123 1110

-Alcoholics Anonymous Great Britain on 0800 917 7650 or help@aamail.org

- Addaction at www.addaction.org.uk/

- Rehab4addiction on 0800 140 4690

- Al-Anon on 0207 4030888

- Alcohol Concern on 020 7928 7377

- NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/

- ADFAM on 020 7553 7640

- National Association for Children of Alcoholics on 0800 358 3456 or helpline@nacoa.org.uk