Over three million deaths per year are attributable to alcohol consumption and drug use and of these deaths, 2.6 million are linked to alcohol consumption, accounting for nearly five percent of all deaths globally, says the latest WHO report.
The report Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, notes that the highest numbers occurred in the WHO European Region and African Region.
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE
According to the report, an estimated 400 million people lived with alcohol and drug use disorders globally in 2019, including 209 million people with alcohol dependence. Substance use severely harms individual health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and preventable deaths. It also places a heavy burden on families and communities, increasing exposure to accidents, injuries, and violence.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the need for urgent action: “To build a healthier, more equitable society, we must commit to bold actions that reduce the negative health and social consequences of alcohol consumption and make treatment for substance use disorders accessible and affordable.”
ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS AND TRENDS
Despite a reduction in alcohol-related death rates since 2010, the overall number of deaths due to alcohol consumption remains high, amounting to 2.6 million in 2019. The highest death rates per litre of alcohol consumed are in low-income countries.
The report reveals that alcohol-related deaths from noncommunicable diseases in 2019 included 474,000 from cardiovascular diseases and 401,000 from cancer. Injuries, such as those from traffic crashes, self-harm, and interpersonal violence, accounted for 724,000 deaths, while communicable diseases linked to alcohol consumption, such as HIV and TB, accounted for 284,000 deaths. Notably, young people aged 20-39 years represented the highest proportion (13%) of alcohol-attributable deaths in 2019.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION PATTERNS
Total alcohol per capita consumption slightly decreased from 5.7 litres in 2010 to 5.5 litres in 2019. The highest levels of per capita consumption in 2019 were observed in the WHO European Region (9.2 litres) and the Region of the Americas (7.5 litres). In 2019, 38% of current drinkers engaged in heavy episodic drinking, defined as consuming at least 60g of pure alcohol on one or more occasions in the preceding month.
TREATMENT GAP FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Effective treatment options for substance use disorders exist, but treatment coverage remains low. In 2019, the proportion of people in contact with substance use treatment services ranged from less than 1% to no more than 35%. Most of the 145 countries that reported data did not have a specific budget line or data on governmental expenditures for treatment of substance use disorders. Stigma, discrimination, and misconceptions about the efficacy of treatment contribute to critical gaps in treatment provision.
Actions for Progress
To accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.5 and reduce the health and social burden attributable to substance use, the WHO recommends intensifying actions in eight strategic areas:
- Increase awareness through a coordinated global advocacy campaign.
- Strengthen prevention and treatment capacity of health and social care systems.
- Scale up training of health professionals.
- Re-commit to the implementation of the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030 with a focus on the SAFER package.
- Accelerate international efforts on capacity-building and knowledge transfer.
- Engage civil society organizations, professional associations, and people with lived experience.
- Improve multi-level monitoring systems and corresponding research capacity.
- Scale up resource mobilization, allocation, and innovative funding mechanisms to strengthen health and social systems.
The WHO report underscores the severe global impact of alcohol and drug use, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatment and preventive measures. Addressing these issues is critical to building a healthier and more equitable society, reducing preventable deaths, and improving the quality of life for millions worldwide.