The Overwhelming Public Health Crisis:
Alcohol and Tobacco vs. Drug Abuse
Ian Y.H. Chua
1, 2, 3, 4
Email: ianyhchua2024@gmail.com
25 March 2025
Abstract
Alcohol and tobacco abuse pose signicantly greater public health hazards than drug
abuse, contributing to millions of deaths annually. This paper presents scientic data
comparing mortality and disease outcomes from alcohol and tobacco use versus illicit
drug abuse. It argues that institutions such as schools, pre-marriage counseling
programs, government oices, private companies, and the military must actively
discourage and enforce bans on alcohol and tobacco use. Special attention is given to
the military, where strict regulations should be enforced, including arrests and
prosecution for violators. The paper also advocates for the inclusion of alcohol and
tobacco abuse clauses in marriage vows to protect families from disintegration caused
by substance dependence. Finally, real-world examples of family collapse due to alcohol
and tobacco use are provided, supporting a strong policy stance against their societal
acceptance.
1. Introduction
Substance abuse is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide, yet the
most legally available substances—alcohol and tobacco—cause signicantly more
fatalities than illicit drugs. Despite their devastating health consequences, alcohol and
tobacco remain socially acceptable in many countries, while drug use is criminalized.
Governments and institutions must take decisive action to curb their use, including strict
enforcement of bans in the military, workplaces, and public spaces.
2. Comparative Data: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Abuse Outcomes
2.1 Global Mortality Rates
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use accounts for over 8
million deaths annually, while alcohol is responsible for 3 million deaths (WHO, 2023). In
contrast, drug-related deaths, including opioid overdoses, amount to approximately
585,000 deaths per year (United Nations Oice on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2023).
2.2 Disease Burden and Mortality Attribution
The following tables summarize the absolute number of deaths, the percentage
contribution to total deaths, and the annual rate of increase for major diseases attributed
to alcohol and tobacco use:
Deaths Attributed to Tobacco Use
Footnote: “Percentage of Total Deaths” for each disease are deaths attributed to tobacco use. Tobacco use includes
all forms of smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes) and vaping (e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems). it also
includes smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco, snu, and dipping tobacco. The highest incidence of death
from tobacco use is due to smoking cigarettes.
Deaths Attributed to Alcohol Use
Footnote: “Percentage of Total Deaths” for each disease are deaths attributed to or associated with alcohol abuse.
This data underscores the profound impact of alcohol and tobacco use on global health
and highlights the urgency of implementing stricter policies to mitigate their harmful
eects.
3. Strategic Locations for Prevention and Enforcement
3.1 Schools
• Early education on the dangers of alcohol and tobacco can prevent initiation of
use.
• Mandatory health classes should emphasize the long-term consequences of
tobacco and alcohol addiction.
• Banning tobacco and alcohol promotions in schools is critical.
3.2 Pre-Marriage Counseling
• Alcohol and tobacco-related family disintegration must be discussed.
• Marriage vows should include commitments to a substance-free family
environment.
• Families broken by substance abuse serve as warnings to future couples.
3.3 Government Oices & Private Companies
• Workplace bans on smoking and alcohol consumption should be strictly
enforced.
• Government policies should increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco by at least
200% to deter use.
• Revenues from these taxes should be allocated to public health programs,
smoking cessation support, and alcohol addiction treatment.
• Private companies can implement wellness programs and cessation support for
employees.
3.4 The Military: A Strict No-Tolerance Policy
• Active-duty and deployed personnel must be banned from alcohol and tobacco
use.
• No military personnel should be seen in bars while in uniform.
• Commanders violating these regulations should face military police intervention
and charges.
• Military personnel should undergo routine substance screening.
• Alarms should be installed in all public toilets and toilets in military installations
to detect smoking violations.
6. Conclusion
Scientic evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that alcohol and tobacco are greater
threats to public health than illicit drugs. Only through decisive legal and cultural action,
including signicant tax increases on alcohol and tobacco, can their devastating impact
be mitigated. Redirecting tax revenues toward public health initiatives will further
enhance prevention and treatment eorts, reducing overall consumption and improving
societal well-being.
Acknowledgments
This paper was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT 4.0, which provided insights and renements in the
articulation of philosophical and scientic concepts.
1
Founder/CEO, ACE-Learning Systems Pte Ltd.
2
M.Eng. Candidate, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
3
M.S. (Anatomical Sciences Education) Candidate, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.
4
M.S. (Medical Physiology) Candidate, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Tobacco-related mortality
statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Alcohol-related mortality
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health. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov
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American Cancer Society (Cancer.org). (2023). Lung cancer and smoking statistics.
Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org
United Nations Oice on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2023). World Drug Report.
Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org