Alcohol use is directly responsible for 2.6 million fatalities annually, or 4.7% of all deaths globally. Interestingly, men account for 2 million of these alcohol-related deaths. The regions of Europe and Africa have the greatest rates of alcohol-related fatalities. Even while the number of alcohol-related deaths has decreased somewhat since 2010, it is still far too high overall.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report that details the detrimental effects of drug and alcohol usage on world health. The research states that these substances cause approximately 3 million deaths annually, with men being the majority of those affected.

Alcohol-Related Deaths
Image Source: Addiction Center

High-income countries have the lowest death rates per liter of alcohol drunk, whereas low-income countries have the highest rates. Consuming alcohol is linked to several illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, and injury. It also raises the possibility of contracting TB and HIV. Those in their 20s to 39s are especially impacted.

0.6 million deaths per year are attributed to the use of psychoactive drugs. 400 million people worldwide are thought to be affected by substance use disorders. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, highlights the necessity of taking decisive action to lessen the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on one's health and society. For drug use problems, treatment that is both accessible and reasonably priced is essential.

The urgency of reaching Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) goal 3.5 by 2030 is emphasized in the report. This objective is to increase access to high-quality treatment while lowering drug and alcohol use. The death toll from alcohol is still remarkably high. To address this global health disaster and stop millions of avoidable deaths, immediate action is needed.

Although country and organization-specific guidelines for alcohol intake differ, the following basic principles apply:

In adulthood, this usually translates to:
Men: Two standard drinks maximum each day.
Women: One normal drink each day, up to one.
A typical drink is about 14 grams of pure alcohol.

It is typically advised that pregnant women abstain from alcohol entirely because of the possible hazards to the developing fetus.

Consuming a significant quantity of alcohol in a brief period is known as binge drinking (typically 4-5 drinks for men and 3-4 drinks for women). Alcohol poisoning, accidents, and liver damage are among the health hazards linked to it.

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