back to news and projects
Local people are being encouraged to share their views on how much they drink and by doing so, help shape healthcare. An event is being held on Friday (June 20) at the Spindles shopping centre between 10am and 4pm, where shoppers can fill in the 'Big Drink Debate' survey, pick up literature and advice on services and where to go if they or someone they know needs help.
And everyone who completes a survey at the Spindles shopping centre on the day will be entered into a prize draw to win an MP3 player!
The North West Big Drink Debate launched in May and is the largest regional survey of its kind. It is the first step in a regional level effort to find effective ways of promoting safer and more social drinking in our region, which currently rates ninth out of nine English regions for harmful and hazardous drinking.
Alan Higgins, director of public health for Oldham, said: "I would really encourage people to get involved in the Big Drink Debate. The survey will help to provide a framework to find effective ways of promoting safer social drinking in Oldham."
Susan Johal, from Oldham Drugs and Alcohol Action Team, said: "We want to raise awareness about the Big Drink Debate as well as encourage them to complete the survey by filling in the survey online or picking up a hard copy on Friday. The survey is only brief but will help us to find out the role that alcohol plays in people's lives."
The Big Drink Debate is being driven by the Our Life initiative which will offer new ways for the NHS, local government, the public, businesses and other sectors to work in partnership to make sure that the North West can become one of the healthiest regions in the country.
The debate will last for three months and will finish on August 17.
It will revolve around a self-selecting questionnaire which will be available both online and in hard copy. Anyone can complete the questionnaire at www.bigdrinkdebate.com
Organisations taking part on the day are Oldham Primary Care Trust, voluntary organisation Addiction and Dependency Solutions (ADS), Oldham Council's trading standards team, charitable organisation Turning Point (which supports people with complex needs including those with drug and alcohol problems), Pennine Care Mental Health Trust's Substance Misuse Service, Oldham Drug Intervention Programme.
