Around 10,000 people have signed a petition for the establishment of a special fund for the treatment of alcoholics. Earlier this month, the Center for Addiction Medicine (SÁÁ), suggested that 10 percent of the taxes collected through the sale of alcohol be directed to help alcoholics and their children.
From the SÁÁ treatment center in Vogur. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
SÁÁ argues that local authorities need to do more to provide treatment and support to those suffering from alcoholism, including the children of alcoholics, and take further steps to assist them to become active in their communities after rehabilitation.
The center recently launched a campaign and petition, Betra líf (‘Better life’), which over 10,000 people have signed, ruv.is reports.
According to president of SÁÁ, Gunnar Smári Egilsson, between 5,000 and 7,000 children are in need of assistance due to the drug or alcohol abuse of their parents. Around 900 adults are in a particularly bad condition.
According to estimates, alcoholics in Iceland pay up to ISK 10 billion (USD 81.5 million, EUR 62.6 million) in tariffs through the purchase of alcohol.
Click here to read more about this story.
ZR
