Britain: An official handbook > 1993

SOCIAL WELFARE
is to assist voluntary agencies in improving
and extending residential provision for alcohol
and drug misusers. The Scottish Council on
Alcohol undertakes similar work in Scotland.
Research and surveys on various aspects of
alcohol misuse are funded by several
government departments.
In 1987 the Government established an
interdepartmental group to develop strategy
for combating the misuse of alcohol.
Measures taken include legislative changes as
well as steps to secure better health education
and more effective action by local services
and organisations. In 1988 the law banning the
sale of alcohol to people under 18 years was
strengthened and stricter controls on alcohol
advertising were introduced. Independent
television restricts the advertising of alcohol
in programmes aimed at young people.
In 1989 the Government announced
increased funding for the Health Education
Authority’s expanded alcohol education
programme. This aims to reduce the harm
caused by the misuse of alcohol by promoting
sensible drinking as part of a healthy way of
life. It also seeks to develop a climate of
opinion which favours appropriate measures
to prevent alcohol-related harm. Alcohol
misuse co-ordinators have been appointed in
each of the 14 regional health authorities in
England with the aim of developing strategies
to counter the misuse of alcohol.
AIDS
The number of cases of AIDS reported in
Britain continues to rise: by the end of June
1992 the cumulative total of reported cases of
AIDS was 6,111, of whom 3,813 (62 per cent)
had died; the cumulative total of recognised
HIV infections was 17,770. Recent statistics
show a steady increase in the number of
AIDS cases among injecting drug users and
people infected through heterosexual
intercourse.
The Government Strategy
The Government has a comprehensive
strategy to control the spread of HIV in
Britain, and to provide diagnostic and
treatment facilities and counselling and
support services for those infected or at risk.
The five main elements are:
• to limit the spread of HIV infection
through public awareness campaigns,
community-based prevention initiatives,
and improved infection control
procedures;
• to improve understanding of the nature
of HIV infection, how it is transmitted,
and how HIV-related illness can be
prevented and treated;
• to provide appropriate diagnostic
treatment, care and support services for
those affected by HIV;
• to encourage understanding and
compassion, discourage discrimination
and safeguard confidentiality, within the
wider context of public health
requirements; and
• to foster exchange of information
between countries, and to persuade
against coercive and discriminatory
measures.
Public Education Campaigns
The first major public education campaign
on AIDS was launched in 1987, aimed at
increasing awareness and knowledge and
encouraging changes in behaviour.
Campaigns are now administered by the
Health Education Authority (see p 131),
using the mass media and supporting
educational work aimed at the general public
and specific sections of the population. A
National AIDS helpline was established in
support of the AIDS public education
campaign, operating 24 hours a day. By the
end of 1992-93 the Government will have
allocated over £73 million to this work.
National campaigns are supplemented by
local HIV prevention initiatives run by
health and local authorities and the
voluntary sector. Extra funds have been
allocated for this work, which is led by
district prevention co-ordinators. The
Government continues to spend more on
HIV/AIDS health education than on any
other single health education programme.
A priority in 1992-93 is to ensure that
health education messages reach people from
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