Addiction ward overflowing after Midsummer holidays – many first-time patients
The addiction treatment department of the National Mental Health Center is overcrowded after the long Midsummer weekend, with 32 patients for 28 beds. Average blood alcohol level is about 5 promille, and doctors warn the main influx is yet to come.
The addiction treatment department of the National Mental Health Center in Latvia is overwhelmed after the extended Midsummer (Jāņi) holiday weekend. With only 28 beds available, the ward currently holds 32 patients, all under the influence of alcohol. Many of them are being treated for the first time. The average blood alcohol concentration among patients is approximately 5 promille.
Medical staff anticipate that this is just the beginning, predicting a further increase in patient numbers. The department's capacity has been exceeded, straining resources. Health professionals emphasize the importance of responsible alcohol consumption and warn that holidays often lead to first-time encounters with serious addiction issues.
