Revista de la Facultad de Medicina (Sep 2023)
Alcohol abuse: a major invisible pandemic
Abstract
Between 2011 and 2021, the number of drug users increased by 23%, going from 240 million to 296 million.1 In this context, alcohol abuse is a risk factor for over 200 health disorders. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the rate of alcohol use in the Americas is approximately 40% higher in the Americas than the global average, which means that this population consumes alcohol in a manner that is detrimental to their health. Therefore, among the numerous psychoactive substances available, alcohol is the main risk factor for burden of disease.2
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