Written by Steve B | Updated on Aug 21, 2024
In a concerning new report, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that alcohol consumption was responsible for around 2.6 million deaths globally in 2019. This staggering number represents approximately 4.7% of all deaths that year.
The comprehensive WHO analysis looked at alcohol and psychoactive drug usage across 145 countries in 2019. While the report noted a slight decrease in alcohol-related deaths compared to 2010, the overall toll remains “unacceptably high,” according to WHO officials.
Some of the key findings from the report include:
– Young people aged 20-39 and those living in Europe and Africa made up the largest proportion of alcohol-attributable deaths.
– Men accounted for around 2 million of the 2.6 million alcohol-related deaths, compared to 600,000 for women.
– Globally, nearly a quarter of all 15- to 19-year-olds reported drinking alcohol, with the highest rates seen in Europe and Africa. 38% of drinkers reported episodes of heavy episodic drinking.
– An estimated 400 million people worldwide have alcohol use disorders, including 209 million with alcohol dependence. However, the report noted a critical lack of quality treatment options in many countries.
The authors emphasized that stigma, discrimination, and misconceptions about the effectiveness of treatment contribute to these troubling gaps in care. They called for health and development agencies to prioritize addressing substance use disorders more urgently.
This sobering WHO report underscores the immense public health toll of alcohol consumption globally. As the data shows, much more work is needed to raise awareness, improve access to treatment, and ultimately reduce the staggering number of alcohol-related deaths worldwide.
Read about the story from the Washington Post
Steve B
Steve is a tech lead for digital publishing, security, and tech performance enhancement.
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