COUNCILLORS have been given an insight into the impact addiction can have on people's lives following a study by Healthwatch Cumberland.

Members of Cumberland Council's health overview and scrutiny committee were given a presentation on the Behind The Addiction report when they met at Cumbria House in Carlisle on Monday (September 16).

Chloe Wallace, Healthwatch Cumberland's senior engagement officer, said that 29 "really brave people" had shared their stories and added: "We wanted to try and capture as many voices as possible."

She said it covered three areas including: people who have an active addiction; those who are in recovery; and those who are affected by someone else's addiction. She added: "It was really powerful because some of the people had never been asked before."

Councillor Helen Davison (Belah, Green Party) said it was a "powerful piece of work" because it featured people's personal stories and she hoped that it would be shared widely.

Councillor Carni McCarron Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) said she liked the report because of its "realness".

However, she said there was a problem recruiting officers to the area and they should do more to attract suitable candidates to Cumbria.

Councillor Elaine Lynch (Wigton, Labour), the portfolio holder for lifelong learning and development, agreed that the report was really powerful and she found it interesting that one of the causes which led to addiction was childhood trauma.

Councillor Andrew Semple (Cockermouth South, Labour) said he had recently seen a special offer on alcohol at a local garage and he wondered if that was the right place for such an offer.

Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) said such offers did not necessarily mean people were getting cheaper alcohol but that they got more to drink and he suggested that legislation by the Government might be a solution.

Councillor Gillian Troughton (Howgate, Labour), the committee chairwoman said that they should pick up the subject in a few months to wee what progress was being made on the report's recommendations.

Colin Cox, Cumberland Council's director for public health, said: "There are some of them where action is underway."

Members noted the recommendations and later discussed the re-commissioning of Cumberland Addictions Services.