A new World Health Organization report has found that 2.6 million deaths were attributable to alcohol consumption in 2019.
The organization's "Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders," published June 25, also reported that 600,000 deaths were attributable to psychoactive drugs in 2019.
Of the 2.6 million alcohol-related deaths, 2 million were among men. Similarly, of the 600,000 psychoactive drug deaths, 400,000 were among men, according to a June 25 news release from the WHO.
Here are five things to know from the report:
- An estimated 400 million people around the globe live with alcohol use disorders.
- The highest numbers of alcohol-related deaths were reported in the European and African regions.
- Of the 2.6 million alcohol-related deaths in 2019, approximately 474,000 were from cardiovascular diseases and 401,000 were from cancer.
- Thirteen percent of alcohol-related deaths were among people ages 20 to 39.
- Death rates from alcohol consumption were higher in low-income countries.
Originally planned to be released in 2022, the report's publication was delayed due to the pandemic, the release said.
Read the full WHO report here.