1 in 20 deaths globally is result of alcohol use – WHO

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that one in 20 deaths around the world was caused by alcohol consumption in 2016.

According to the report over three million people died from consuming alcohol that year.

The report, which was published on Friday, says that more than 75 percent of these deaths were among men.

The largest cause of death — 28 percent– was due to injuries.

This was followed by 21 percent of deaths due to digestive disorders and 19 percent due to cardiovascular diseases.

The remaining causes of death were infectious diseases, cancers, mental disorders and other health conditions attributable to drinking alcohol.

“The alcohol consumption level continues to be very high,” said Dr. Vladimir Poznyak, WHO’s Management of Substance Abuse coordinator. “All countries can do much more to reduce the health and social costs of the harmful use of alcohol.”

The report shows that alcohol consumption caused 5 percent of the globals disease burden and causes over 200 disease and injury conditions.

It shows that 237 million men and 46 million women worldwide are affected by disorders due to alcohol consumption, with the European region most affected, followed by the Americas.

“Far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO. “It’s time to step up action to prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies.”

Alcohol is consumed by an estimated 2.3 billion people globally, WHO said and school surveys point out that most children start consuming alcohol before the age of 15.

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8 Comments

  1. Jonathan Y St Jean
    September 24, 2018

    And to think that most people vilify marijuana but accept alcohol. Now it’s time to put some reigns on this monster, alcohol

  2. Tierra
    September 22, 2018

    Use marijuana instead. It is better for the body

  3. Bob Denis
    September 22, 2018

    Very true Tierra, i’ll piggy back on what you are saying. It’s the most detrimental of all drugs, Alcohol affects and poison every organ in the body, Male sexual powers are practically destroyed, his home and Family ends up in disarray, incest in homes, being intoxicated on the job, driving under the influence, I can go on and on. The effects of Alcohol on Women, how the Fetus is affected during pregnancy, is of great concern. In Dominica, Alcohol is creating havoc, putting tremendous stress on the medical institutions, as the effects starts showing up as cancer, in the Caribbean dominica included, a vast percentage of all vehicular mishaps are Alcohol related. The Relationship of Alcohol and Slavery is very well documented, and is still very much alive on the Island, WE ALL SHOULD BE CONCERNED.

  4. Franky
    September 21, 2018

    That’s crap… so if u drink a Lil alchol just on the weekends. .. I am going to die? So much people that dranking alchol like mad and they still alive. .. nothing happening to them… nonsense article

  5. Peter
    September 21, 2018

    Clarification needed. How much alcohol? What type of alcohol? Where is the data to support this? I seen data supporting the benefits of drinking red wine.

  6. Tierra
    September 21, 2018

    Legslized poison. Alcohol should be illegal. It kills

  7. eh?
    September 21, 2018

    Drinking a couple glasses of punch while reading this……………should I be concerned?

    • Nrt
      September 23, 2018

      Only if you let it take over and babysit you and you become womiel.

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