Shock figures coincide with family statement on Charles Kennedy's 'battle with alcoholism'
CONFIRMATION that former Ross MP Charles Kennedy's death "was a consequence of his battle with alcoholism” has coincided with alarming new official statistics about the extent of the problem in Scotland.
Mr Kennedy died at home in Caol near Fort William a week ago at the age of 55 just weeks after losing the Westminster seat he had held for 32 years.
A family statement said the postmortem examination had confirmed that the death last Monday “was a consequence of his battle with alcoholism”.
It went on to pay heart-felt thanks to members of the public and politicians for the warm tributes which have been pouring in since the death, which shocked so many people.
Confirmation of the cause of death has coincided with new Scottish Government figures showing that on average there are around 700 hospital admissions and 20 deaths a week due to alcohol misuse and that Scotland’s overall death rate from liver cirrhosis in 2010 was around 40 per cent higher than the EU average.
Attempts to address the nation's relationship with alcohol have also drawn attention to the fact that it is now around 60 per cent more affordable than it was in 1980, with this trend being driven by the off-trade.
The Scottish Government is doubling the capacity to deliver Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) in wider settings.
NHS Boards and their partners have delivered over 470,000 interventions since April 2008 to help people cut down on their drinking, potentially reducing the requirement for more costly alcohol related treatments later on.
Plans are also in train for a new social marketing campaign aiming to prompt awareness among parents of the impact their drinking can have on children, and the importance of recognising they are role models whom young people may emulate.
In the family statement, Mr Kennedy's family paid thanks for friends and medics who had offerered help in the MP's personal battle with alcohol down the years.
It said: “We are grateful to the many friends and also medical experts who sought to help down the years but ultimately this was an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made.
“Charles’s family would first like to thank the public and politicians who have been so warm in their tributes to him and so sincere in their concern for us,” the statement said.
“We have been touched beyond measure by the outpouring of warmth for a man whose loss we will feel deeply forever.
“The pain we feel has been at least eased somewhat by the reaction of so many people across Scotland, the UK and beyond, and by the affection expressed by politicians across the spectrum.
"It has become all too apparent to us how much Charles meant to so many people and how many lives he touched.”
“We have now been informed by the office of the procurator fiscal of the findings of the postmortem. Charles’s death was caused by a major haemorrhage and the report makes clear this was a consequence of his battle with alcoholism.”
They also thanked the public authorities and emergency services for dealing with his death with such courtesy, kindness and efficiency.
Mr Kennedy admitted publicly that he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem just months after leading the party to its greatest success in the 2005 general election.
An announcement on plans for is funeral and a memorial service are expected to be announced soon.
