THE dangers of the North-East's heavy drinking culture will be highlighted at a conference next month.

Doctors will warn drinkers who regularly drink to excess that they are storing up health problems for the future.

The conference, held at Sunderland football stadium, will look at plans to improve treatment services for the increasing number of people in the region who abuse alcohol.

Figures for binge drinking among both men the North East are higher than the average for England and the number of people dying of alcohol-related illnesses is increasing.

Hospital admission rates for alcoholic liver disease are significantly higher than in any other region except the North West.

And last year a Department of Health survey found that the North-East had the poorest provision of services for treating people with alcohol problems in the country.

Dr David Walker, acting regional director of public health , said the increase in alcohol consumption and the earlier onset of alcohol-related disease over the last 20 years is "alarming."

The medic will warn that unlike other unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as smoking and obesity, the impact of alcohol abuse is often not recognised by those most at risk.

"At least with smoking the rate is going down and the dangers of obesity are recognised by individuals, communities and organisations."

But with alcohol it is still very much the social norm for young people to go out and get drunk - and those who drink heavily do not see it as a problem," said Dr Walker.

The event will be attended by representatives from local government, the police and community partnerships.

On the agenda will be the effectiveness of various treatments, 'models of care' for those who abuse alcohol and the results of research.

Delegates will also hear how it feels to be on the receiving end of treatment.

A senior official from the Department of Health will also describe how to develop a local programme aimed at improving treatment services.

Mick Davies, manager of the privately run Tunstall Unit in Sunderland, the region's only specialist detoxification and rehabilitation unit, said the conference was timely.

But he warned that more resources were urgently needed to help seriously ill patients whose lives often depended on getting access to treatment.