Women’s alcohol deaths are increasing – my daughter died alone after fighting for decades

Official statistics reveal that in Scotland, the number of women who died from alcohol-related illnesses increased by 3% last year compared to the previous year. Despite this rise among women, the overall number of deaths linked to alcohol slightly decreased, reaching the lowest level since the pandemic began. In total, there were 1,152 alcohol-specific deaths recorded, representing a 3% drop from 2024 figures.

The Scottish government views this reduction as positive progress and has committed £160 million this year to support programs addressing alcohol and drug issues. However, personal stories highlight the ongoing struggles faced by many families. For instance, Paula Gibson from Aberdeen lost her daughter Clare in November 2023 at the age of 45. Clare had battled alcoholism for over two decades, spending significant time in rehabilitation. Although she had periods of sobriety, she ultimately died alone at home.

Paula, now 72, described how her daughter began struggling with alcohol in her early twenties, and despite constant support and interventions, Clare’s condition worsened over time. The situation became so difficult that Paula and her husband assumed custody of Clare’s youngest son when he was eight years old. She reflected on the emotional toll the experience took on her family, saying, “Her behaviour was extreme and the impact it had on all of us was really difficult. We were living on a knife edge, not knowing what the next phone call would be or what would happen to her next.”

Throughout Clare’s battle, Paula emphasized that they accessed every available resource but sometimes, it is just not enough. She also noted that Clare left behind a financial legacy to ensure her children were cared for. Paula expressed mixed emotions after Clare’s passing, stating, “The alcoholism is a self-fulfilling prophecy and a nasty cycle of horror for those in it and everyone around them. The whole family suffers. She was just like Jekyll and Hyde with a drink, that’s the reality and it is hell.”

The charity Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems welcomed the overall decline in alcohol-related deaths but expressed concern about the increase among women. Its chairman, Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, highlighted that while deaths among men have decreased, the rise in female deaths is troubling. He attributed this trend to targeted marketing strategies by the alcohol industry, which have promoted drinking to women through product design, packaging, and campaigns associating alcohol with wellbeing, celebration, and empowerment.

Dr MacGilchrist also noted that alcohol-related deaths had surged sharply during the pandemic and have been slow to decline since. He pointed out that death rates remain higher than pre-Covid levels, with people living in Scotland’s most deprived communities facing nearly five times the risk of dying from alcohol-related causes compared to those in the least deprived areas. He stressed, “That is not a situation we can accept as the new normal. It is a reason to act.”

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More