6,000 alcohol-related deaths in Finland in 2005

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Preliminary figures on causes of death in Finland reported by Director General Pekka Puska from the National Public Health Institute on Thursday indicate that the excessive consumption of alcohol caused around 6,000 deaths among the over-30-year-old population in 2005. In other words, one in eight among the Finnish working-age population who died in 2005 succumbed to alcohol poisoning or diseases related to the consumption of alcohol.
      The actual report of the National Public Health Institute on alcohol- and tobacco-related deaths will be completed in the autumn.
     
Based on the information from 2000, a working group estimated that the number of deaths could be reduced by as many as 5,000 every year, if the heavy users of alcohol were able to reduce their consumption to the same level as moderate drinkers.
      The limit for excessive consumption is six drinks at a time for men, and four drinks for women.
      According to the researchers at the NPHI, the substantial mortality rate forms only a small part of the damages caused by excessive drinking. Other alcohol-related risks include unemployment, diseases, the increasing use of health care servies, and social problems.
     
Alcohol-related deaths are typically a consequence of alcohol poisoning, accidents, and cirrhosis of the liver. Furthermore, heavy drinking hastens the onset of cardiovascular disease as well as certain types of cancer.
      The consumption of alcohol increased noticeably during the period from 2000 to 2005. Previously, researchers evaluated that alcohol would cause ten per cent of all deaths. Now they have corrected their evaluation by increasing the number from 5,000 to 6,000. All Finns aged more than 30 years are involved in the assay.
      The annual number of Finnish citizens aged under 30 who die as a result of heavy drinking is 200 to 300, says researcher Tuija Martelin from the National Public Health Institute.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Alcohol-related problems on increase during summer holiday season (14.8.2007)
  Record number of alcohol-related deaths in Finland last year (1.11.2005)

Links:
  National Public Health Institute

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