HARNESSING the support of the community will be key to tackling the number of children being admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions, a leading councillor has said.

Figures released in the 2018 Darlington Child Health Profile show how the rate of youngsters being treated after abusing alcohol has decreased significantly in recent years, but remains about 50 per cent higher than the national average.

While the study found the rate of child hospital admissions for mental health conditions and self-harm were similar to the rest of England, those for alcohol abuse were markedly higher.

Darlington Borough Council’s children’s and young people boss Councillor Cyndi Hughes said the most recent Healthy Lifestyles Survey of children dismissed suggestions that a drinking culture in the town could be behind the child alcohol abuse figures.

The survey, set to be examined by councillors next week, found the majority of secondary school age children reported negative attitudes towards alcohol consumption and taking illegal drugs.

The study found most children in Darlington “showed high levels of knowledge and awareness of the information and health messages related to these behaviours” and only about half of 13 to 16-year-olds had ever had a drink of alcohol.

Cllr Hughes said the declining number of children being admitted over alcohol in Darlington indicated teamwork between public health workers and NHS was working.

She added: “It is not moving quickly enough for me and many parents in the town. If there was an easy answer to this we would have fixed it by now. Educating young people, their families and the wider community about the dangers of excessive drinking and the warning signs is the only answer.”

Cllr Hughes said the closeness of Darlington Memorial Hospital to the town centre could be a contributory factor in the child-alcohol admissions figure and responders such as the police were being trained about whether hospital was the best place for children who may have underlying issues.

She added the council was getting tough with retailers who sold alcohol to children, but adults were still buying alcohol for children. Cllr Hughes said: “That is a harder nut to crack.”