Increase in Alcohol Deaths in England an ‘Acute Crisis,’ Say Researchers

The Persistent Higher Rate of Alcohol Deaths in England Since the Pandemic In 2020 is an “Acute Crisis” Requiring Urgent Action from the Government, According to a New Study Led by Researchers at UCL and the University of Sheffield.

For the Study, Published in The Lancet Public HealthResearchers Analyzed Office for National Statistics (ONS) Figures of Deaths Caused Solely by Alcohol in England. Then Found That Death Rates Were Stable Between 2009 and 2019, But Increaded by Fifth in 2020, Rising by A Further 13.5% Between 2020 and 2022.

The Team Estimated That 3.911 More People Had Died Solely Because of Alcohol in England Between 2020 and 2022 Than Would Have Been The Case if PRE-PANDEMIC TREDS HAD CONTINUED.

The Largest Increases Were Among Groups Most Likely to Be Affected Before The Pandemic – Men, People from Deprived Areas, and Those AGED 50 to 69. The Main Cause, The Researchers Found, Was a Steep Rise in Liver Damage Caused by Alcohol. Deaths from Acute Causes Such As Alcohol Poisoning Also Increaded.

The Latest Ons Figures from 2023, Thought not Analyzed by the New Study, show alcohol deaths continuing to rise in England, up to 8,274.

Lead Author Dr. Melissa Oldham, of the Ucl Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, Said, “The Sharp Increase in Alcohol Deaths During the Pandemic Was no Flash in the Pan.

“IT IS AN ACUTE CRISIS, AND URGENT Action is Needed to Prevent Further Avoidable Deaths. This include substantial investment in health services to Better Detect and Treat Liver Disease As wells to reduce alcohol consumption in the population, such as minimum unit pricing and advertising restrictions. “

Senior Author Professor Colin Angus, of the University of Sheffield’s School of Medicine and Population Health, Said, “The Increase in Alcohol deaths is entenching existent health inequalities.

“Men, Just as Before The Pandemic, Are Twice As Likely to Die Because of Alcohol Compred to Women, with Almost Three Times As Many AddiThe Alcohol-Specific Deaths in the Most Deprived Areas Compred to the Least Deprived.”

In the Paper, The Researchers Said the Increase In Liver Dist Daths May Be Partly Explained by an Increase in Drink Heavier Drinkers and by More Frequent Bingge Drink, as Reduced Access to Health Services During the Pandemic and Reduced Treatment Seeking. Increases in DRINKING SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC AND LOCKDOWNS OF NOT SEEM TO HAVE RETURNED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, WHICH COULD PARTLY EXPLAIN THE CONTINUING INCREASE IN ALCAHOL-SPECIFIC DEATHS EACH YEAR.

They Said Obesity May Be a Factor, the Increased Drinking During the Pandemic Lockdowns May Have Been Accompanied by Weight Gain and A More Sedentary Lifestyle, and Obesity Increases The Risk of An Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Death.

Covid-19 May Also have had an impact, the Having Established Cirrhosis

Co-Author Dr. Gautam Mehta, of the UCL Division of Medicine, Said, “There Marked Inequities in the Provision of Liver Care in England. The Avenue Age from Liver Disease is Nine Years Lower in the Most Deprived Parts of the Country, Compred to the Least. And, Overall, Rates of Death Following A Admission With Liver Cirrhose ARE Times Higher Than Comparable Admission for Stroke or Heart Disease.

Persistent Higher Alcohol Death Rates Since the Pandemic Have Also Been Reported in Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Australia, and the United States.

The Researchers Added That it was uncllear Why Changes in Alcohol Consumption at the Start of the Pandemic Had Persisted, when, for Most People, Day-to-Day Life Had Returned to Pre-Pandemic Routines.

This coald be that habits formmed during the lockdowns were diffult to break. Then Suggesteed That, In England, It Could Be Linked to the Cost-of-Living Crisis, Well as Mental Worse Health, with Higher Rates of Severe Psychological Distress Reported in England Between 2020 and 2022.

The Study Used the OnS Definition of Alcohol Deaths As Those Registered on the Death Certificate AS Having An Underlying Cause That Is Wholly Attributable to Alcohol. This excludes deaths caused partially by alcohol, such as alcohol-relaced cancer or road traffic accidents.

Dr. Katherine Severi, Chief Executive, Institute of Alcohol Studies, Said, “It’s Shocking to See That Almost 4.000 More People Died in England From Alcohol Than Was Expected Since The Pandemic, with the Number Continuing to Rise.

“We’ve Known For Years Now That Changing Drinking Habits During Lockdowns Increased Levels of Alcohol Harm – This Study Underlines The Impact That Had On Worsning Health Inequalities Across England.

“The Government Has Made Tackling Inequalities One of Its Health Priorities. There is no Way of Doing That Without Introduicing A Comparthensive Alcohol Strategy That Tackles Cheap, Excessively Available, and Aggressivery Marketed Alcohol.”

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair, Alcohol Health Alliance, Said, “Five Years on From the Start of the Pandemic, We Are Still Seeing The Devasting Consequences of Increaded Alcohol Consumption. Deaths Remain at Record Highs – Hitting Those Who Were Already at Greatest Risk Before The Pandemic The Hardest.

“Alaminingly, The Burden of Alcohol Harm Continues to Fall Disprortionity on the Most Deprived Communities, and It is deepening existent health.