Morbidity and mortality attributable to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use in Canada

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 385 - 390
• Main Authors: Single, E, Robson, L, Rehm, J, Xie, X, Xi, X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.03.1999; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Aged; Alcohol; Alcohol consumption; Alcohol use; Biological and medical sciences; Canada; Canada - epidemiology; Cardiovascular disease; Cause of Death; Cost of Illness; Costs; Drug abuse; Drug addictions; Drug use; Estimates; Factors; Falls; Female; Gender; Heart; Hospitalization; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Mortality; Population Surveillance; Public health; Risk; Risk Factors; Smoking; Substance-Related Disorders - complications; Substance-Related Disorders - mortality; Tobacco; Toxicology; Value of Life; Vehicles; Womens health; Canada; North America; America; Human; Illicit drug; Alcoholism; Mortality; Tobacco smoking; Epidemiology; Morbidity; Americas; Drug Usage; Social Problems; Alcohol Drinking; Causes Of Death; North America; Diseases; Drug Addiction; Substance Addiction; Canada; Northern America; Developed Countries; Population; Behavior; Demographic Factors; Population Dynamics; Smoking
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.89.3.385

This study estimated morbidity and mortality attributable to substance abuse in Canada. Pooled estimates of relative risk were used to calculate etiologic fractions by age, gender, and province for 91 causes of disease or death attributable to alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs. There were 33,498 deaths and 208,095 hospitalizations attributed to tobacco, 6701 deaths and 86,076 hospitalizations due to alcohol, and 732 deaths and 7095 hospitalizations due to illicit drugs in 1992. Substance abuse exacts a considerable toll on Canadian society in terms of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 21% of deaths, 23% of years of potential life lost, and 8% of hospitalizations.