According to The World Health Organization, alcohol has killed, continues to kill, and keeps killing more folks than any other legal substance. Alcohol kills way more Americans than opiates. Where's the outrage?
Worldwide, more than 3.3 million deaths a year were due to harmful use of alcohol, says WHO. Alcohol consumption can not only lead to dependence but also increases people’s risk of developing more than 200 diseases including liver cirrhosis and some cancers. In addition, harmful drinking can lead to violence and injuries.
The report also finds that harmful use of alcohol makes people more susceptible to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.
The "Global status report on alcohol and health 2014" provides country profiles for alcohol consumption in the 194 WHO the Member States, the impact on public health and policy responses.
Some countries are already strengthening measures to protect people. These include increasing taxes on alcohol, limiting the availability of alcohol by raising the age limit and regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages.
The report also highlights the need for action by countries including:
national leadership to develop policies to reduce harmful use of alcohol 66 WHO Members have written national alcohol policies
national awareness-raising activities (nearly 140 countries reported at least one such activity in the past three years)
health services to deliver prevention and treatment services, increasing prevention, treatment, and care for patients and their families, and supporting initiatives for screening and brief interventions
In addition, the report shows the need for communities to be engaged in reducing harmful use of alcohol
On average every person in the world aged 15 years or older drinks 6.2 liters of pure alcohol per year. But as less than half the population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol, this means that those who do drink consume on average 17 liters of pure alcohol annually.
The report also points to the fact that a higher percentage of deaths among men than among women are from alcohol-related causes - 7.6% of men’s deaths and 4% of women’s deaths – though there is evidence that women may be more vulnerable to some alcohol-related health conditions compared to men. In addition, the authors note that there is concern over the steady increase in alcohol use among women.
Globally, Europe is the region with the highest consumption of alcohol per capita, with some of its countries having particularly high consumption rates. Trend analysis shows that the consumption level is stable over the last 5 years in the region, as well as in Africa and the Americas, though increases have been reported in the South-East Asia and the Western Pacific regions.
Through a global network, WHO is supporting countries in their development and implementation of policies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. The need for intensified action was endorsed in the landmark 2011 United Nations General Assembly meeting, which identified alcohol as one of four common risk factors* contributing to the non-communicable diseases epidemic.
Just one observation of a drunk is enough to convince anyone that alcohol directly affects the brain. People who drink enough to become inebriated end up with slurred speech, impaired motor skills, and judgment. Many of them suffer from headaches, nausea, and a hangover.
The deadliest drug in America at the center of VA nominee withdrawal: Alcohol https://www.salon.com/2018/05/01/the-deadliest-drug-in-america-at-cente…
Alcohol kills way more Americans than opiates. Where's the outrage? https://bloom.bg/2r7ViE4
Alcohol contributes to 88,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, more than double the number of people killed by heroin and opioid prescription drug overdose in 2016
Alcohol Kills 1 Person Every 10 Seconds http://time.com/96082/alcohol-consumption-who/
