Alcohol kills 10 times more Aussies than drugs

Alcohol-related deaths in Victoria, Australia, are 10 times higher than those caused by illegal drugs, new data has shown.

Alcohol kills 10 times more people than illegal drugs in Victoria, Australia

The most recent data highlighted by Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education analysed harm indicators including hospital admissions, ambulance attendances and emergency department presentations.

In 2012/13, alcohol related emergency department presentations (7,744) were more than six times greater than illegal drug related presentations (1,206).

Alcohol-related hospital admissions over the same period totalled 26,444 while drug-related admissions were three times lower at 8,083.

Furthermore, alcohol-related ambulance attendances equated 18,078, compared to 6,293 for illicit drugs.

Michael Thorn, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education chief executive is asking political parties to commit to “meaningful measures” to tackle the situation before the up-coming Victoria elections next month.

“The latest data is further evidence of the extent of alcohol harms in Victoria,” said Thorn. “Emergency department presentations for alcohol are more than six times than those for illicit drugs, and we see 10 times more alcohol related deaths than deaths from other drugs.

“As the Victorian election fast approaches I again call on the State Government and Opposition to acknowledge the problem and to stand up and tell the people of Victoria what they intend to do, if elected, to address it.”