Can Responsible Drinking Coexist with Alcohol Industry's Goals?

The health and well-being of individuals are profoundly affected by the use of psychoactive substances such as drugs and the excessive consumption of alcohol. This underscores the importance of promoting responsible consumption within the beverage industry. According to the "Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders" released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 25, 2024, the year 2019 witnessed 2.6 million deaths worldwide due to alcohol abuse, while psychoactive drugs were responsible for nearly 600,000 deaths.

The misuse of substances not only has severe health consequences for individuals but also leads to negative social and economic impacts on communities. The report highlights that in 2019, 13% of alcohol-related deaths occurred among individuals aged 20 to 39, a demographic particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of alcohol consumption.

Despite some progress in reducing alcohol abuse and related harm since 2010, the health and social burden remains unacceptably high. The WHO has identified eight priority areas requiring urgent action to mitigate these effects. However, the implementation of high-impact policies, such as effective pricing strategies and comprehensive marketing and availability restrictions, has been slow and limited.

Access to treatment for substance use disorders remains a significant challenge. Nearly half of the global population with alcohol or drug use disorders does not receive the necessary treatment. This is partly due to stigmatization and discrimination, as well as misconceptions about the effectiveness of treatment. Effective and cost-efficient treatment interventions are recommended by the WHO, yet their availability is limited or nonexistent in many regions.

The report indicates that national policies on alcohol abuse have increased, with 56% of countries reporting written policies in 2019, compared to 43% in 2010. However, the effective implementation of these policies is inconsistent, with many low- and middle-income countries facing significant barriers such as insufficient resources and lack of capacity to monitor consumption and related harms.

Approximately 81% of countries report the availability of pharmacological treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, though in 10% of these countries, availability is limited to isolated initiatives within leading national institutions or research programs. In about 7% of countries, pharmacological treatment for substance use disorders is entirely unavailable.

The report underscores the need to strengthen treatment capacity and service coverage for substance use disorders as an integral part of universal health coverage. This includes not only providing treatment services but also implementing effective public health strategies to reduce the health and social burdens attributable to substance use.

The report concludes that without firm political commitment, robust awareness campaigns, and resource mobilization, the global target for reducing drug and alcohol abuse by 2030 is unlikely to be met. The WHO emphasizes the need to accelerate international efforts in capacity-building and knowledge transfer to develop and implement effective public health policies and interventions. These efforts must distinguish between responsible consumption within dietary norms and pathological addictive consumption.

The findings of the "Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders" serve as a crucial reminder of the ongoing challenges and the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the complex issue of substance abuse on a global scale.