2.6 million deaths annually linked to alcohol consumption, reports World Health Organization

A recent report released by the World Health Organization revealed that there are approximately 2.6 million deaths worldwide each year as a result of alcohol consumption. Data from 2019 showed that alcohol was responsible for 4.7% of all deaths globally. This information was included in the WHO’s global status report on alcohol, health, and substance use disorder treatment. The report also highlighted that around 600,000 deaths annually are linked to the use of psychoactive drugs.

According to the World Health Organization, 209 million individuals around the world struggle with alcohol dependency, making up about 2.7% of the total global population. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the severe impact of substance use on individual health, leading to chronic diseases, mental health issues, and millions of preventable deaths each year. He stressed the importance of taking bold actions to reduce the negative health and social consequences of alcohol consumption and ensuring accessible and affordable treatment for substance use disorders.

The report indicated that alcohol-related deaths were more prevalent in Europe and Africa compared to Asia and the Americas. Out of the 2.6 million fatalities associated with alcohol, 1.6 million were attributed to noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular issues and cancer. Additionally, 724,000 deaths were due to injuries from accidents, self-harm, and violence. Alcohol consumption also contributed to risky behaviors that resulted in 284,000 deaths related to communicable diseases.

In the United States, the rate of heavy drinkers was the highest in the Americas, with 6.7% of individuals over the age of 15 classified as heavy drinkers. This rate exceeded that of Italy but fell below figures from countries like Spain, Germany, and France. The U.S. saw 149,867 alcohol-related deaths in 2019, with a death rate of 31.2 fatalities per 100,000 people. Globally, the death rate from alcohol consumption was 32.3 per 100,000 individuals in 2019.