Social harm from alcohol costing Haringey £143m per year

Haringey Council’s findings foreshadow a move to improve the borough’s substance misuse and treatment services, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

A glass of wine — Photo by Corina Rainer on Unsplash

Alcohol-related harm costs Haringey an estimated £143million a year – or £542 per resident – according to a new council report.

It also reveals that 33 “alcohol-specific” deaths occurred in the borough in 2024 alone.

This is in addition to 51 drug‑misuse deaths in Haringey between 2022 and 2024.

The findings were published in the report prepared by Haringey Council ahead of a cabinet member signing on Thursday (2nd April).

The signing by Lucia das Neves, the council’s cabinet member for health social care and wellbeing, will give the green light for the local authority to begin the procurement process for a provider of substance misuse and treatment services in Haringey from 1st March 2027.

Currently, a drug support service at The Grove in Tottenham provides treatment and support for the borough’s residents. This includes a range of services, including group and one-to-one therapy, detoxification and rehabilitation treatment and needle exchanges.

It also provides women’s only spaces, friends and family support and employment, training and welfare help.

“Providing well-funded drug and alcohol services is good value for money because it cuts crime, improves health, and can support individuals and families on the road to recovery,” the report says.

“For every £1 spent on alcohol treatment, it is estimated that the societal return on investment is £3, increasing to £21 over ten years.

“For every £1 spent on drug treatment, there is an estimated £4 return on investment, increasing to £26 over ten years.”

Describing the importance of the council’s services, the report says: “Integrated drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services provide structured support to adults with addiction or harmful substance use.

“A stable, clinically safe, and integrated service model is essential to protect vulnerable residents, reduce drug and alcohol related deaths, and ensure compliance with conditions attached to the public health grant.

“Haringey currently has record numbers of residents in drug and alcohol treatment, with approximately 2,000 individuals supported during 2025/26 –with strong treatment outcomes and robust quarterly performance monitoring arrangements”.

In considering the decision to launch the procurement campaign the council says it has considered “key risks” such as potential service disruption due to the potential for a change of service provider – as well as “ongoing workforce pressures”.

In its report, the local authority states: “These risks will be mitigated through early market engagement, clear transition planning, close collaboration with existing providers, and continuous monitoring to support strong oversight of quality, performance, equity and resident experience.

“This procurement follows previous decisions to commission specialist drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services using the ring-fenced element of the public health grant and maintains the council’s commitment to improving health outcomes, reducing drug- and alcohol‑related harms, and supporting residents on their recovery journey.”

The council’s drug support and advice webpage can be found at haringey.gov.uk/health-wellbeing/health-services-support/drug-support-advice.

Support can also be found at the ‘Talk to Frank’ website at talktofrank.com, while anyone having trouble finding the right sort of help can call the Talk to Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600.

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