More than 50,000 people in Shropshire are either dependent on alcohol or are risking their health through heavy drinking, new figures reveal.

A Shropshire Council report says members of the public, businesses and agencies have consistently identified alcohol as a “key local concern” and priority for action.

Analysis of national data suggests Shropshire could be home to as many as 8,898 people dependent on alcohol.

A further 46,200 may be putting their health and lives at risk through regular heavy drinking.

Young men aged 15 to 24 are also more likely to commit alcohol related crime, become the victim of it, or be admitted to hospital as a result of assault.

“Although Shropshire has made progress in developing responses to alcohol related harm over the last few years, it is recognised that there is still a long way to go,” says the report.

Drugs

“Effective partnership working is necessary in ord- er to reverse trends such as an increase in alcohol relat- ed crime, an increase in alcohol related mortality rates, and higher than average regular consumption of alcohol among young people.”

On the issue of drugs, the report says there are estimated 1,061 “problematic” drug misusers aged between 15 and 64 in the county.

Problematic drug use defines the use of opiates such as heroin, morphine and crack cocaine and the majority of people in treatment are aged 25-plus.

The report says total recorded crime has been falling in Shropshire since 2004 but cases of anti-social behaviour between October 2008 and September 2009 increased by 2.49 per cent.

“However it is difficult to verify why this increase has taken place as there is insufficient long term data to compare with previous years,” adds the report.

It also reveals that speeding traffic continues to be the top concern across the county and has been for the past six years.

Under-age drinking and young people loitering in public are also a worry.

The report being presented to councillors next week sets out the priorities for action this year.

These include reducing offending and re-offending rates through an integrated offender management team, supporting people who are vulnerable, especially victims of domestic abuse, hate crime and anti-social behaviour, and improving access to effective drug and alcohol treatment.

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris