Alcoholism Prevention Day July 11, 2023

One of the significant and pressing issues for the Republic of Belarus remains the prevention of drunkenness, alcoholism, and mortality from external causes.

Structure of alcohol consumption in the Republic of Belarus (2020 data): vodka – 52.3%, beer – 21.2%, vintage wines – 17.7%, fruit wines – 8.8% ("Northern model").

For reference: from the perspective of experts, the "ideal" structure of alcohol consumption is: low-alcohol beverages, beer – 50%, wine – 35%, spirits – 15%.

According to WHO estimates, alcohol-related costs for society amount to 2-5% of GDP (while only 4% of all direct costs are related to the provision of narcological care, 96% are related to eliminating the consequences of alcoholism, including those caused by alcohol consumption in the workplace).

The average life expectancy of drinkers is 15-20 years shorter than that of non-drinkers.

Almost every fourth alcoholic (23.6%) has attempted suicide at least once in their life.

Drunkenness and alcoholism are linked to up to 50% of crime.

Alcohol abuse by at least one spouse consumes 40 to 70% of the family budget. This phenomenon is associated with about 50% of all divorces and an absolutely predominant proportion of cases of social orphanhood.

Alcohol consumption contributes to the development of over 200 diseases, disabilities, and premature death.

After weekends, labor productivity decreases by 10-15%, and after major holidays – by 25-30%. Alcohol consumption is one of the main causes of occupational injuries. The problem of employees appearing at work in a state of alcoholic intoxication and drinking alcoholic beverages during working hours is relevant (in 2017, 16,735 such cases were recorded, and in 2022 – 18,700).

Alcohol sales volumes over the last 10 years in the Republic of Belarus have decreased from 11.6 million decaliters in 2011 to 7.7 million decaliters in 2022. The share of vodka in the total volume of alcohol sales in the Republic of Belarus in 2022 decreased by 0.8%, sparkling wines – by 4.6%, grape wines – by 7.7%, fruit wine – by 9.5%. Beer sales volumes remained virtually unchanged. At the same time, the share of cognac and brandy sales increased by 8%. Sales of low-alcohol beverages showed a sharp increase – by 34.5%. Liqueurs and liquor products were sold 14.5% more than in 2021. In total, 5.2 billion rubles worth of alcohol was sold in 2022.

For reference: An increase in alcohol sales by 1 liter is accompanied by a 2.6% increase in overall mortality, a 3.1% increase in cardiovascular mortality, a 6.1% increase in liver cirrhosis mortality, an 11.1% increase in acute alcohol poisoning, an 18% increase in alcoholism and alcohol psychoses, and a 6.2% increase in mortality from injuries and accidents, and a 4.8% increase in homicide rates.

In the Republic of Belarus, every 7th traffic accident is caused by intoxicated drivers.

In the Vitebsk region alone, 2088 drivers were apprehended in 2022 for driving under the influence, with 77 of them being repeat offenders (in 2021, the figures were 2318 and 106, respectively). For the first 6 months of 2023, 751 intoxicated drivers were apprehended in the Vitebsk region, with 17 of them being repeat offenders (for the first 6 months of 2022, the figures were 1085 and 28, respectively).

In the city of Vitebsk, 582 intoxicated drivers were apprehended in 2022, with 19 of them being repeat offenders (in 2021, the figures were 608 and 21, respectively). For the first 6 months in the city of Vitebsk, 177 intoxicated drivers were identified, with 10 of them being repeat offenders (for the same period in 2022, the figures were 291 and 12, respectively).

For reference: In accordance with Article 18.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus, driving a vehicle by a person in a state of alcoholic intoxication, with an absolute ethyl alcohol content in the blood or exhaled air up to 0.8 per mille inclusive, entails a fine of one hundred base units and disqualification from engaging in certain activities for a period of three years. If the absolute ethyl alcohol content in the blood or exhaled air exceeds 0.8 per mille, or if the person is in a state caused by the consumption of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, toxic or other stupefying substances, or refuses to undergo the established procedure for examination (testing) to determine the state of alcoholic intoxication or a state caused by the consumption of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, toxic or other stupefying substances, as well as consuming alcohol or narcotic drugs after a demand to stop or after an accident before undergoing examination, entails a fine of two hundred base units and disqualification from engaging in certain activities for a period of five years.

For repeated driving under the influence within a year, a criminal case is initiated under Article 317-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, which provides for deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for up to 5 years with correctional labor for up to 2 years, arrest or restriction of liberty with a fine of up to 1,000 base units, and in some cases, imprisonment for up to 2 years. Vehicle confiscation is also provided for.

In the Vitebsk region in 2022, the incidence of наркологические расстройства (addiction disorders) was 178.56 per 100,000 population (1971 people) and increased by 2.0% compared to 2021. The incidence of chronic alcoholism was 166.15 per 100,000 population (1834 people) and increased by 0.6% compared to 2021. The incidence of addiction disorders among the female population was 75.5 per 100,000 female population and decreased by 4.8% compared to the previous year.

In 2022, 849 children (425.81 per 100,000 child population) were identified as using alcohol and other psychoactive substances, with detection rates increasing by 8.7% compared to 2021.

The number of patients with alcoholic psychoses registered decreased by 5 cases compared to 2021 and amounted to 7.07 per 100,000 population.

The prevalence of наркологические расстройства (addiction disorders) was 1834.15 per 100,000 population and was 1.6% higher than in 2021: 20,246 patients with addiction disorders are registered (in 2021 – 20,217).

The number of patients observed with chronic alcoholism was 19,461 people (in 2021 – 19,469), an increase of 1.5%. The number of women registered with addiction disorders slightly increased compared to 2021 and amounted to 5,058 people (846.76 per 100,000 female population).

For the first 6 months of 2023, the incidence of наркологические расстройства (addiction disorders) was 103.46 per 100,000 population (1142 people) and increased by 16.4% compared to 2022. The incidence of chronic alcoholism was 96.57 per 100,000 population (1066 people) and increased by 15.0% compared to 2022. The incidence of addiction disorders among the female population was 46.87 per 100,000 female population and increased by 16.0% compared to 2022.

In the analyzed period of 2023, 355 children (178.05 per 100 thousand children population) were identified as consuming alcohol and other psychoactive substances; the detection rate decreased by 7.9% compared to the 2021 level.

The number of patients with alcohol psychoses registered increased by 2.9% compared to the 2022 level, reaching 3.26 per 100 thousand population.

The prevalence of addictive disorders was 1845.03 per 100 thousand population, which is 2.1% higher than the 2022 level; 20,366 patients with addictive disorders are registered (20,366 in 2022).

The number of patients observed with chronic alcoholism was 19,590 (19,522 in 2022), an increase of 1.9% in relative terms. The number of women registered increased compared to 2022, reaching 5,127 (858.31 per 100 thousand female population).

In 2022, 3,020 patients were recognized as needing referral to a therapeutic and preventive facility (ЛТП), which is 16.7% higher than in 2021. 882 people were sent to ЛТП (701 in 2021). In the first 6 months of 2023, 1,407 patients were recognized as needing referral to ЛТП. This figure decreased by 8.8% compared to the 2022 level. 519 people were sent to ЛТП (491 in 2022).

In 2022, 256 people (23.19 per 100 thousand population) died from alcohol poisoning in the region, which is 4.5% higher than in 2021. Among the working-age population, there were 264 cases, and among the older working-age population, there were 92 cases. In the first 6 months of 2023, according to preliminary data, 116 people died from alcohol poisoning in the region, which is 28.8% lower than in 2022 (163 people), including 85 people of working age and 31 of older working age.

For questions regarding the prevention and treatment of alcohol addiction, you can consult a psychiatrist-narcologist at your place of residence or the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Center for Psychiatry and Narcology at the following address: inpatient facility: Vitebsk village, Tsentralnaya St., 1a, tel. 69-29-60; dispensary: Vitebsk city, Kommunisticheskaya St., 1/3, registry phone 61-45-80; psychonarcological department with anonymous consultations: Vitebsk city, N. Tereshkova St., 30 (polyclinic No. 1, 4th floor), anonymous registry phone 61-45-76.

The 24-hour helpline is 61-60-60).

Prepared by a psychiatrist-narcologist

Vitebsk Regional Clinical Center for Psychiatry and Narcology

Shchelkunova I.N.