Harmful consumption of alcohol kills 3 million worldwide in 2016



[ad_1]

Picture of Vladimir Poznyak

Vladimir Poznyak

Although there have been positive trends in the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related mortality since 2010, no overall reduction in total per capita consumption has been reported. has been recorded and the global burden of alcohol-related morbidity remains high.

With current trends forecasting an increase in total per capita alcohol consumption worldwide over the next ten years, the WHO will not reach its goal of a relative reduction of 10 percent. % of alcohol consumption by 2025, unless effective measures to combat high and increasing levels of alcohol consumption, according to the WHO World Report on Alcohol and Health (2018).

"Alcohol consumption around the world continues to be very high, with a very high burden of disease attributable to alcohol consumption. We have 3 million deaths, which are the latest estimates for 2016 – 5.3% of all deaths worldwide " Vladimir Poznyak, MD, PhD, coordinator of the WHO Drug Addiction Program, said at the virtual press conference. "The policy responses currently in place in countries are certainly not sufficient to reverse the trends we see in many parts of the world or to significantly improve this situation with alcohol-related harm around the world.

The report presented information on the reduction of harmful use of alcohol, global surveillance and prevention strategies, global and regional trends in alcohol consumption, health consequences and alcohol consumption. public health and policy responses.

"The report also presents some positive trends, which took place from 2010, and show the feasibility of reducing the harmful consumption of alcohol when effective policies are implemented," M added. Poznyak.

In 2016, the harmful use of alcohol has resulted in about 3 million deaths worldwide.

Source: Shutterstock.com

Global
aconsumption of alcohol

According to the report, about 2.3 billion people were current drinkers in the world in 2016. Alcohol is consumed by more than half of the population of the Americas, Europe and the Western Pacific. In addition, 26.5% of adolescents aged 15 to 19 are current drinkers, or 155 million adolescents worldwide.

While the prevalence of heavy episodic abuse has increased from 22.6% in 2000 to 18.2% in 2016 in the total world population, it remains high among drinkers. Worldwide, the prevalence of heavy episodic abuse peaks at the age of 20 to 24, becoming higher than in the general population. Although the prevalence of alcohol abuse is the same in most high- and lower-income countries, the economic wealth of countries is related to alcohol consumption and the increased prevalence of current drinkers. in all regions of the WHO.

By 2025, WHO predicts that total per capita alcohol consumption among 15-year-olds will increase in the Americas, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, unless that these tendencies do not cease and do not reverse.

Harmsgreat utility, consequences for health

Alcohol abuse is a major health issue of the population that affects maternal and child health; infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases and mental health; injuries; and poisonings, according to the report. However, global strategies and plans of action have not yet sufficiently taken into account their role in the burden of disease.

Alcohol was responsible for 7.2% of total mortality in 2016 on a global scale. According to the WHO, the harmful use of alcohol has resulted in about 3 million deaths, of which more than three quarters in men, and 132.6 million years of life adjusted on disability in 2016. Mortality due to alcohol consumption was higher than that caused by tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS and diabetes.

Source: Adobe Stock

The report showed that about 237 million men and 46 million women suffer from alcohol-related disorders, the highest prevalence being observed in the European region and in the American region . An estimated 2.3 million deaths and 106.5 million disability-adjusted life years were attributable to alcohol consumption among men in 2016, while women were registered 0.7 million deaths and 26.1 million disability adjusted life years.

In addition, the report states that alcohol is often used in conjunction with other psychoactive substances. The WHO has recommended that public health approaches take into account this link between the consumption of alcohol and other psychoactive substances, particularly with opioids and benzodiazepines, in the prevention of death by overdose.

Global Strategies, policies and interventions

The report revealed that in 2016, 80 countries had written national alcohol policies, eight subnational policy countries and 11 others had totally banned alcohol. Although the percentage of countries with a written national alcohol policy has increased steadily since 2008, most countries in Africa and the Americas do not have such policies.

In addition, according to WHO, the level of treatment coverage for alcohol dependence remains unknown in most countries. About half of the countries reported that they were increasing the level of screening and brief interventions for the consumption of harmful alcohol in primary health care facilities since 2010, but most have occurred in high- and upper-middle-income countries. Although most countries impose restrictions on beer advertising, nearly half of the countries have not declared any restrictions on the Internet and social media, writes WHO in its report.

According to the report, effective alcohol policies protect people's health. WHO has made recommendations to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through updated data on the cost-effectiveness of policy options and interventions. The most cost-effective measures included the increase in taxes on alcoholic beverages, the ban or regulation of advertising in the media regarding alcohol and the restriction of the physical availability of alcohol. alcohol.

The WHO has also highlighted its Global Information System on Alcohol and Health, a directory of all key indicators related to alcohol (alcohol consumption, health and social impacts and policy and program responses) included in its global noncommunicable disease surveillance frameworks. National surveillance systems often collect only data on alcohol consumption and health consequences, and monitor less often the social consequences and measures taken with regard to alcohol. The report advises public health to monitor all three indicators, and countries should generate international comparability of data for global surveillance.

Public health response

The report underscored the need for "whole of government" and "global" approaches in collaboration with public health organizations, professional associations and civil society groups to combat the harmful use of drugs. 39, alcohol worldwide.

WHO has indicated that the magnitude of health and social problems caused by alcohol requires coordinated action by different parts of the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations in the context of the Agenda for Sustainable Development at the Horizon. 2030. To effectively monitor and report on alcohol-related indicators, future efforts will need to simplify procedures for generating, collecting, validating and reporting data, as well as methodological advances in alcohol-related indicators. assessment of the coverage of substance use disorders.

Alcohol

Source: Adobe Stock

Concerted actions are needed to deal with the rising trend of alcohol consumption in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions, supporting downward trends in the Americas and continue to encourage positive change in European regions. While the development and implementation of alcohol policies has improved around the world, they do not effectively protect people from alcohol-related harm.

The WHO has reported the following possibilities to reduce the harmful use of alcohol worldwide:

  • including alcohol-related goals in key global policy and strategic frameworks;
  • growing awareness of health in populations;
  • reduce the consumption of alcohol by young people;
  • Recognize the role of alcohol policies in reducing gender inequalities and
  • gather evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multiple alcohol control measures.

At the end of the briefing, Mr. Poznyak provided take-home messages of the report.

"Although there are some positive trends, which we have observed from some indicators, the level of alcohol consumption and the alcohol-related disease burden are excessively high," he said. Mr. Poznyak.

"Based on all trends and forecasts, we can expect an increase in overall alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm over the next 10 years. This will lead to an increase in the number of deaths and suffering in the world, "he continued. "We are clearly seeing the gap between the magnitude of the problem caused by the harmful use of alcohol, the resources and the commitment to put in place and implement cost-effective and efficient measures. This means that some countries will miss the target and will not progress … if the situation continues to stagnate to the point we presented in our report. " – by Savannah Demko

Disclosure: Poznyak is a WHO employee.

Picture of Vladimir Poznyak

Vladimir Poznyak

Although there have been positive trends in the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related mortality since 2010, no overall reduction in total per capita consumption has been reported. has been recorded and the global burden of alcohol-related morbidity remains high.

With current trends forecasting an increase in total per capita alcohol consumption worldwide over the next ten years, the WHO will not reach its goal of a relative reduction of 10 percent. % of alcohol consumption by 2025, unless effective measures to combat high and increasing levels of alcohol consumption, according to the WHO World Report on Alcohol and Health (2018).

"Alcohol consumption around the world continues to be very high, with a very high burden of disease attributable to alcohol consumption. We have 3 million deaths, which are the latest estimates for 2016 – 5.3% of all deaths worldwide " Vladimir Poznyak, MD, PhD, coordinator of the WHO Drug Addiction Program, said at the virtual press conference. "The policy responses currently in place in countries are certainly not sufficient to reverse the trends we see in many parts of the world or to significantly improve this situation with alcohol-related harm around the world.

The report presented information on the reduction of harmful use of alcohol, global surveillance and prevention strategies, global and regional trends in alcohol consumption, health consequences and alcohol consumption. public health and policy responses.

"The report also presents some positive trends, which took place from 2010, and show the feasibility of reducing the harmful consumption of alcohol when effective policies are implemented," M added. Poznyak.

In 2016, the harmful use of alcohol has resulted in about 3 million deaths worldwide.

Source: Shutterstock.com

Global
aconsumption of alcohol

According to the report, about 2.3 billion people were current drinkers in the world in 2016. Alcohol is consumed by more than half of the population of the Americas, Europe and the Western Pacific. In addition, 26.5% of adolescents aged 15 to 19 are current drinkers, or 155 million adolescents worldwide.

While the prevalence of heavy episodic abuse has increased from 22.6% in 2000 to 18.2% in 2016 in the total world population, it remains high among drinkers. Worldwide, the prevalence of heavy episodic abuse peaks at the age of 20 to 24, becoming higher than in the general population. Although the prevalence of alcohol abuse is the same in most high- and lower-income countries, the economic wealth of countries is related to alcohol consumption and the increased prevalence of current drinkers. in all regions of the WHO.

PAGE BREAK

By 2025, WHO predicts that total per capita alcohol consumption among 15-year-olds will increase in the Americas, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, unless that these tendencies do not cease and do not reverse.

Harmsgreat utility, consequences for health

Alcohol abuse is a major health issue of the population that affects maternal and child health; infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases and mental health; injuries; and poisonings, according to the report. However, global strategies and plans of action have not yet sufficiently taken into account their role in the burden of disease.

Alcohol was responsible for 7.2% of total mortality in 2016 on a global scale. According to the WHO, the harmful use of alcohol has resulted in about 3 million deaths, of which more than three quarters in men, and 132.6 million years of life adjusted on disability in 2016. Mortality due to alcohol consumption was higher than that caused by tuberculosis, HIV / AIDS and diabetes.

Source: Adobe Stock

The report showed that about 237 million men and 46 million women suffer from alcohol-related disorders, the highest prevalence being observed in the European region and in the American region . An estimated 2.3 million deaths and 106.5 million disability-adjusted life years were attributable to alcohol consumption among men in 2016, while women were registered 0.7 million deaths and 26.1 million disability adjusted life years.

In addition, the report states that alcohol is often used in conjunction with other psychoactive substances. The WHO has recommended that public health approaches take into account this link between the consumption of alcohol and other psychoactive substances, particularly with opioids and benzodiazepines, in the prevention of death by overdose.

Global Strategies, policies and interventions

The report revealed that in 2016, 80 countries had written national alcohol policies, eight subnational policy countries and 11 others had totally banned alcohol. Although the percentage of countries with a written national alcohol policy has increased steadily since 2008, most countries in Africa and the Americas do not have such policies.

In addition, according to WHO, the level of treatment coverage for alcohol dependence remains unknown in most countries. About half of the countries reported that they were increasing the level of screening and brief interventions for the consumption of harmful alcohol in primary health care facilities since 2010, but most have occurred in high- and upper-middle-income countries. Although most countries impose restrictions on beer advertising, nearly half of the countries have not declared any restrictions on the Internet and social media, writes WHO in its report.

PAGE BREAK

According to the report, effective alcohol policies protect people's health. WHO has made recommendations to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through updated data on the cost-effectiveness of policy options and interventions. The most cost-effective measures included the increase in taxes on alcoholic beverages, the ban or regulation of advertising in the media regarding alcohol and the restriction of the physical availability of alcohol. alcohol.

The WHO has also highlighted its Global Information System on Alcohol and Health, a directory of all key indicators related to alcohol (alcohol consumption, health and social impacts and policy and program responses) included in its global noncommunicable disease surveillance frameworks. National surveillance systems often collect only data on alcohol consumption and health consequences, and monitor less often the social consequences and measures taken with regard to alcohol. The report advises public health to monitor all three indicators, and countries should generate international comparability of data for global surveillance.

Public health response

The report underscored the need for "whole of government" and "global" approaches in collaboration with public health organizations, professional associations and civil society groups to combat the harmful use of drugs. 39, alcohol worldwide.

WHO has indicated that the magnitude of health and social problems caused by alcohol requires coordinated action by different parts of the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations in the context of the Agenda for Sustainable Development at the Horizon. 2030. To effectively monitor and report on alcohol-related indicators, future efforts will need to simplify procedures for generating, collecting, validating and reporting data, as well as methodological advances in alcohol-related indicators. assessment of the coverage of substance use disorders.

Alcohol

Source: Adobe Stock

Concerted actions are needed to deal with the rising trend of alcohol consumption in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions, supporting downward trends in the Americas and continue to encourage positive change in European regions. Although the development and implementation of alcohol policies has improved around the world, they do not effectively protect people from alcohol-related harm.

The WHO has reported the following possibilities to reduce the harmful use of alcohol worldwide:

  • including alcohol-related goals in key global policy and strategic frameworks;
  • growing awareness of health in populations;
  • reduce the consumption of alcohol by young people;
  • Recognize the role of alcohol policies in reducing gender inequalities and
  • gather evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multiple alcohol control measures.

At the end of the briefing, Mr. Poznyak provided take-home messages of the report.

"Although there are some positive trends, which we have observed from some indicators, the level of alcohol consumption and the alcohol-related disease burden are excessively high," he said. Mr. Poznyak.

"Based on all trends and forecasts, we can expect an increase in overall alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm over the next 10 years. This will lead to an increase in the number of deaths and suffering in the world, "he continued. "We are clearly seeing the gap between the magnitude of the problem caused by the harmful use of alcohol, the resources and the commitment to put in place and implement cost-effective and efficient measures. This means that some countries will miss the target and will not progress … if the situation continues to stagnate to the point we presented in our report. " – by Savannah Demko

Disclosure: Poznyak is a WHO employee.

[ad_2]
Source link