Alcohol and Substance Abuse Linked to Up to 100 Deaths Daily in Sri Lanka: Academic
Between 80 and 100 people are estimated to die every day in Sri Lanka due to alcohol and substance abuse, according to Dr. Manoj Fernando, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Rajarata University.
Dr. Fernando made the remarks at an awareness press conference on illicit drug prevention and education held under the “A Nation United – National Drive” campaign launched by Sri Lanka Police to combat the spread of narcotics across the country.
He said no other single cause was responsible for such a high number of deaths in Sri Lanka on a daily basis.
According to Dr. Fernando, smoking accounts for the highest number of deaths, while alcohol consumption alone is estimated to contribute to between 10 and 15 deaths each day. He also said illicit drug use has increased significantly, with the use of legal substances often serving as a pathway to illegal drugs.
“A major reason for the use of most illegal drugs in Sri Lanka is the gateway created by legal substances. Smoking acts as a primary entry point in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Dr. Fernando said there is substantial evidence indicating that many people who later use heroin had previously smoked, while those who subsequently used cannabis had generally consumed alcohol or cigarettes beforehand.
He also highlighted the wider health, social and economic consequences of substance abuse, noting that smoking contributes significantly to disease-related deaths.
“Additionally, 10 to 15 people die daily due to alcohol consumption. Although exact research on deaths from other illicit drugs is still developing, estimated data suggests that another 10 to 15 people die daily because of them,” he said.
Dr. Fernando stressed that the impact of substance abuse extends beyond individual deaths, affecting families, communities and the national economy.
“On average, nearly 80 to 100 lives are lost every single day solely due to narcotic substances. When you look at these deaths, there is hardly any other single reason for such deaths,” he added.
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