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Addressing the Impact of Substance Abuse: Insights from WHO

The consumption of psychoactive substances, such as drugs and alcohol, profoundly affects individual health and societal well-being.

This underscores the urgent necessity for the beverage industry to champion responsible drinking practices.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) recently published "Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders," dated June 25, 2024, brings to light the severe repercussions of substance abuse and the pressing need for effective interventions.

The Alarming Statistics

The report reveals staggering figures: in 2019, abusive alcohol consumption resulted in 2.6 million deaths globally, while psychoactive drugs accounted for nearly 600,000 deaths. The toll of substance abuse extends beyond individual health, imposing significant social and economic burdens on communities. For instance, in 2019, binge drinking was responsible for 13% of deaths among individuals aged 20 to 39, a demographic especially susceptible to the detrimental effects of alcohol.

Progress and Persistent Challenges

Despite some strides in mitigating alcohol abuse since 2010, the health and social consequences of uncontrolled alcohol consumption remain distressingly high. The WHO has pinpointed eight priority areas requiring urgent action to reduce these adverse effects. However, the adoption of high-impact policies, such as pricing strategies and comprehensive marketing and availability restrictions, has been sluggish and limited.

Access to treatment for substance use disorders poses another major challenge. Nearly half of the global population suffering from alcohol or drug abuse disorders do not receive the necessary treatment, a situation exacerbated by stigmatization, discrimination, and misconceptions about treatment efficacy. Although WHO recommends effective and cost-efficient treatment interventions, their availability is either limited or non-existent in numerous regions.

National Policies and Implementation Gaps

National policies addressing alcohol abuse have seen an increase, with 56% of countries reporting written policies in 2019, up from 43% in 2010. Nonetheless, the effective implementation of these policies is inconsistent. Many low- and middle-income countries face significant barriers, including insufficient resources and inadequate capacity to monitor alcohol consumption and its associated harms.

Specifically, 81% of countries report the availability of pharmacological treatments for drug or alcohol addiction disorders. However, in 10% of these countries, such treatments are confined to isolated initiatives within leading national institutions or research programs. Alarmingly, in about 7% of countries, drug treatment for substance use disorders is entirely unavailable.

Strengthening Treatment and Public Health Strategies

The report underscores the necessity of enhancing treatment capacity and service coverage for drug and alcohol abuse disorders as an integral component of universal health coverage. This involves not only providing treatment services but also implementing effective public health strategies to lessen the health and social burden of substance use.

Without robust political commitment, widespread awareness campaigns, and resource mobilization, achieving the global target of reducing drug and alcohol abuse by 2030 remains improbable. The WHO calls for accelerated international efforts in capacity building and knowledge transfer to formulate and execute effective public health policies and interventions. These efforts should differentiate between responsible consumption within a dietary context and pathological addictive consumption.

Conclusion

The WHO report highlights a critical issue that demands immediate and sustained action. The beverage industry, public health officials, and policymakers must collaborate to foster responsible drinking habits and provide comprehensive support for those affected by substance abuse. Only through concerted global efforts can we hope to alleviate the severe health, social, and economic impacts of substance abuse and move towards a healthier, more responsible future.

Source: Vinetur

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