Facts and figures

The bare facts

We know what can and needs to be done to help reduce the burden of psychoactive substance use. Therefore, WHO is committed to assisting countries in the development, organization, monitoring and evaluation of treatment and other services.

• The harmful use of alcohol results in 2.5 million deaths each year.
• 320,000 young people between the age of 15 and 29 die from alcohol-related causes, resulting in 9% of all deaths in that age group.
• At least 15.3 million persons have drug use disorders.
• Injecting drug use reported in 148 countries, of which 120 report HIV infection among this population.

More information:

• - Alcohol
• - Other psychoactive substances