Global burden and trends of high alcohol use-related injuries

High alcohol consumption is a major global public health concern, contributing to injuries such as self-harm, interpersonal violence, transport injuries, and unintentional injuries (UII). However, comprehensive global assessments of the injury burden related to high alcohol use remain limited.
A study published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 to estimate high alcohol consumption-related mortality and disability-adjusted life years from 1990 to 2021 across 204 countries and regions. Trends in the age-standardised disability-adjusted life years rate and age-standardised mortality rate were analysed, socio-demographic index (SDI) disparitieswere examined, and countries with the most significant potential to reduce the disease burden were identified.
Despite the decline in the age-standardised disability-adjusted life years rate and age-standardised mortality rate across global injuries, low-middle SDI regions continue to face increasing burdens of self-harm, interpersonal violence, and transport injuries (The age-standardised disability-adjusted life years rate increased from 57.25 to 70.55; 25.08 to 30, respectively), while unintentional injuries remain high in high-middle and high SDI countries (The rates were 57.94 and 59.12, respectively). Young adults and the elderly bear the greatest burdens. The study predicts that China, India, and several high-burden nations will see further increases in disability-adjusted life years and the age-standardised disability-adjusted life years rate by 2030, emphasising the urgent need for interventions.
The researchers state that targeted policy measures, such as raising the legal drinking age, strengthening alcohol control for young people in low and lower-middle SDI regions, and enhancing healthcare services for older adults in high-SDI regions, are vital to reduce HAU-related injuries. Evidence-based, SDI-adapted strategies can substantially lower this burden.
Source: Qiheng, Y., Zhixuan, C., Bianjin, S., et al. (2025). Global burden and trends of high alcohol use-related injuries from 1990 to 2030: a comprehensive assessment of self-harm and interpersonal violence, transport injuries, and unintentional injuries using global burden of disease 2021. Frontiers in Public Health, 13.