A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report reveals that alcohol and drug use contribute to over 3 million deaths annually, with the majority of these fatalities occurring among men. Specifically, alcohol consumption is responsible for 2.6 million deaths per year, making up 4.7% of all deaths globally, while psychoactive drug use accounts for an additional 0.6 million deaths. Men represent a significant portion of these statistics, with 2 million alcohol-related and 0.4 million drug-related deaths.
The WHO’s “Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders,” based on 2019 data, provides an in-depth analysis of the public health impact of substance use. The report highlights that approximately 400 million people globally are affected by alcohol and drug use disorders, including 209 million with alcohol dependence.
“Substance use severely harms individual health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and tragically resulting in millions of preventable deaths every year. It places a heavy burden on families and communities, increasing exposure to accidents, injuries, and violence,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. He emphasized the need for urgent action to mitigate the negative health and social consequences of substance use and to improve accessibility to treatment.
Health Consequences of Alcohol Consumption
Despite a slight reduction in alcohol-related death rates since 2010, the overall number of deaths remains alarmingly high, with the European and African regions being the most affected. In 2019, 1.6 million alcohol-related deaths were due to noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, while injuries and communicable diseases accounted for 724,000 and 284,000 deaths respectively. Young people aged 20-39 years made up 13% of alcohol-attributable deaths.
Alcohol Consumption Trends
Global alcohol consumption per capita slightly decreased from 5.7 liters in 2010 to 5.5 liters in 2019, with the highest levels in the WHO European Region and the Americas. Heavy episodic drinking remains prevalent, especially among men, with 38% of current drinkers engaging in such behavior.
Treatment Gap for Substance Use Disorders
Despite the availability of effective treatments, coverage remains low, ranging from less than 1% to 35% in countries reporting data. Many countries lack specific budget allocations for substance use disorder treatment, and stigma and misconceptions about treatment efficacy persist.
Actions for Progress
The report calls for intensified efforts in eight strategic areas to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.5 by 2030. These include increasing awareness, strengthening health systems, scaling up professional training, implementing the Global Alcohol Action Plan, and mobilizing resources.
The WHO stresses the importance of coordinated global action to reduce the health and social burdens of substance use and to make treatment more accessible and affordable worldwide.
