Alcohol
Published: March 2025 Alcohol is widely consumed locally in Wakefield District and nationally across England. The 2021 National Health Survey for England found 79% of adults had consumed alcohol in the last 12 months [1]. The Wakefield Adult Health Survey in 2023 found that three in five respondents (60%) drink alcohol at least once a … Continue reading "Alcohol"
Drug use
Headlines It is estimated that 2,927 people are using either opiates and/or crack cocaine in Wakefield District (2019/20), of which 1,658 people are using opiates only, and 382 people are using crack cocaine only1. The number of people using opiates only per 1,000 population is significantly higher than the England rate, but the number of … Continue reading "Drug use"
Smoking
Published: July 2023 | Updated: July 2025 Smoking is proven to have a significant impact on an individual’s health, leading to many serious conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and cancers. Headlines Smoking prevalence across the district has declined over the last 10 years. 16.0% of adults are smokers, according to primary care data … Continue reading "Smoking"
Gambling Harms Health Needs Assessment
Published: January 2026 The Gambling Harms Health Needs Assessment (HNA) was completed in September 2024 by Christus Ferneyhough, Public Health Registrar, to examine the prevalence and impact of gambling harms in Wakefield. Gambling dates back across the ages and is a popular leisure activity in England. Due to the rise of digital technology, along with incentivised … Continue reading "Gambling Harms Health Needs Assessment"