Alcohol consumption in Latvia has reached a level at which it is equated with an epidemic. This means immediate and complex measures are needed in order to combat this problem more decisively, as concluded by the National Council for Prevention of Alcoholism on Thursday, the 25th of April.
During the meeting, participants discussed finishing measures to prevent alcoholism. However, no new initiatives were suggested.
The study of Latvian schoolchildren’s health habits reveals that the proportion of girls consuming alcohol is up, exceeding the proportion of boys for the first time.
The data for 2023 from Latvian Emergency Medical Service indicates that the number of call concerning children who drank alcohol is up in Latvia. Data from the National Health Service indicates there has been a significant increase in the number of children with psychiatric and behavioural disorders due to alcohol consumption in outpatient and inpatient care.
According to the Ministry of Health, one of the most significant aspects alongside reduction of alcohol availability,
expansion of preventive measures and provision of treatment, is the education aspect in schools.
The National Council for Prevention of Alcoholism expects the two legislative drafts submitted by the Ministry of Health to be reviewed in the Saeima. The council expects the parliament to speed up their review for the 3rd reading.
Representatives of the Ministry of Health mentioned that this year marks the start of behavioural correction programme adopted by the Ministry of Transport for persons caught drunk driving. It will be mandatory for those punished for drunk driving if they want to restore their driver’s licence.
The programme is meant to help correct people’s thinking and help them understand the consequences of their actions. Participants will have to pay for the behavioural correction course from their own wallet. As deputy director of the Ministry of Transport Public Transport Services Department Jānis Kalniņš mentioned at the council’s meeting, there are three approved organisations that will provide courses in Riga, Jēkabpils, Rēzekne and Daugavpils.
The 5th of May will mark the expansion of the functions of the Disease Prevention and Control Centre’s consultation hotline 67 037 333. From that point on it will start providing consultations to residents, making it easier for them to learn about available addiction treatment services, as well as psychological support to residents suffering from alcoholism, the Ministry of Health reports.
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