ALCOHOLICS in east London will get extra help to give up drinking as part of a new multi-million pound drive, it was announced today.

Newham was named as one of the 20 areas in the country with the worst record for alcohol problems.

The borough will be targeted by a new £7million Alcohol Improvement Programme. The scheme should speed up progress on tackling alcohol related problems and help alcoholics to receive treatment more quickly.

Across the country regional alcohol managers will give out advice on drinking, and money will also be spent on increasing access to specialist treatment. Currently there is just one place for every 18 people who show signs of dependency.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "More than a quarter of adults in England drink above government guidelines and around 15,000 people die because of alcohol every year. We clearly have a serious problem.

"Starting with the most deprived areas, we are going to roll out a new programme which will help drinkers at risk. For every pound spent on alcohol intervention, five pounds are saved by the public purse - so this is money well spent."

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