[HARMRED] 200 Million People Worldwide Use Illegal Drugs, Study Says

[alice bell]

illegal drugs led to 250,000 deaths in that year, compared with 5.1 million
deaths due to tobacco, and 2.25 million due to alcohol

 

 

From: harmred-bounces at drcnet.org [mailto:harmred-bounces at drcnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mark Kinzly
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 11:49 AM
To: Harm Reduction Forum
Subject: [HARMRED] 200 Million People Worldwide Use Illegal Drugs, Study
Says

 


200 Million People Worldwide Use Illegal Drugs, Study Says


 

 World with blue pills 1-6-12 (2)
<http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/World-with-blue-pills-1-
6-12-2.jpg> 

An estimated 200 million people worldwide use illegal drugs, according to a
new study. The health consequences of this use are wide-ranging, researchers
report this week in The Lancet
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2961138
-0/abstract> . They include overdose, dependence, violence or injury due to
intoxication, as well as heart disease, mental disorders and cirrhosis.

The Los Angeles Times
<http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-worldwide-drug-use-201201
05,0,7241284.story>  reports that 125 to 203 million people use marijuana,
14 million to 56 million use amphetamines, 12 million to 21 million use
opioids, and 14 million to 21 million use cocaine. In addition, 11 million
to 21 million inject drugs. An estimated 15 million to 39 million are
considered problem drug users, the article notes.

Illegal drug use is highest in developed countries, the researchers found.
They point out that many people who use illegal drugs take more than one
drug.

The major adverse health effects of marijuana are dependence, and probably
psychotic disorders and other mental disorders, the researchers conclude.
They say that marijuana is unlikely to be deadly.

Drugs caused 2.1 million years of life lost in 2004, followed by alcohol,
which caused a loss of 1.5 million years, according to the World Health
Organization. Drug-related deaths tend to strike younger people, accounting
for the higher number of years of life lost compared with other causes of
death. Overall, illegal drugs led to 250,000 deaths in that year, compared
with 5.1 million deaths due to tobacco, and 2.25 million due to alcohol.

 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1NIBD2KZtI&feature=related
 <http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741>
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741
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Mark Kinzly

2 Thunder Hill

York, ME 03909

markkinzly at yahoo.com

860-724-5339

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