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App to help reduce alcohol intake could save NHS £500 million

A University of Sheffield study suggests that promoting the Drink Less app could prevent 4,500 deaths and save the NHS £500 million over 20 years. 

A recent study by the University of Sheffield indicates that widespread promotion of the Drink Less app, developed at UCL, could prevent 4,500 deaths and save the NHS £500 million over the next two decades. The app, designed to help users reduce their alcohol consumption, has been shown to be effective in encouraging healthier drinking habits.

The research evaluated two primary strategies for promoting the app: a national mass media campaign and integration into primary care settings. The mass media campaign was projected to prevent approximately 2,600 deaths and 108,600 hospital admissions, resulting in NHS savings of £417 million over 20 years. However, embedding the app into GP consultations was found to be even more effective, potentially preventing 4,500 deaths and 188,400 hospital admissions, leading to £500 million in savings for the NHS.

Professor Colin Angus, lead author of the study and a member of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group, emphasised the urgency of addressing rising alcohol-related harm: “Rates of heavier drinking increased sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic, and we have seen alcohol-specific deaths increase by 42% since 2019, with 23 people dying in England every day as a direct result of their drinking.”

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A scalable and cost-effective solution

The study’s findings highlight the potential of digital interventions in public health strategies, particularly in addressing alcohol-related harm. By leveraging technology within healthcare settings, the NHS could implement scalable and cost-effective solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

Dr Claire Garnett, a research fellow at the University of Bristol and chief investigator on a large-scale trial of the Drink Less app, stressed the importance of a multifaceted approach to tackling alcohol harm: “By making tools like Drink Less readily available and integrating them into existing healthcare systems, we can not only improve people’s individual health outcomes but also contribute to a more equitable and healthier society.”

The Drink Less app has not only been proven to be an effective tool in helping people reduce their alcohol consumption, but it has also garnered support from figures such as TV and radio presenter Adrian Chiles, who has publicly shared his experience of using the app to cut back on his alcohol intake.

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