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Results TERENGGANU GSHS 2012

3.2 Alcohol Consumption

Introduction

Worldwide, alcohol use causes 3% of deaths (1.8 million) annually, which is equal to 4% of the global
disease burden. Across sub-regions of the world, the proportion of disease burden attributable to
alcohol use is greatest in the Americas and Europe ranging from 8% to 18% of total burden for males
and 2% to 4% of total burden for females. Besides the direct e]ects of intoxication and addiction,
alcohol use causes about 20% to 30% of each of oesophageal cancer, liver disease, homicide and
other intentional injuries, epilepsy, and motor vehicle accidents worldwide (31), and heavy alcohol use
places one at greater risk for cardiovascular disease (32). In most countries, alcohol-related mortality
is highest among 45 to 54 years, but the relationship between the age of initiation of alcohol use and
the pattern of its use and abuse in adulthood makes the study of alcohol consumption among
adolescents important (33). Intentional and unintentional injuries are far more common among youth
and young adults. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among 15 to 25 years and
many of these injuries are related to alcohol use (34). Young people who drink are more likely to use
tobacco and other drugs and engage in risky sexual behaviour, than those who do not drink (35, 36).
Problems with alcohol can impair adolescents’ psychological development and in`uence both the
school environment and leisure time negatively (37).

Findings

The prevalence of current alcohol use among students was 2.5% (95% CI: 1.36-4.67) (Table 2.1.1).
Among students who ever consumed alcohol, 92.6% (95% CI: 79.29-97.64) had their _rst drink of
alcohol before the age of 14 years (Table 2.2.1).

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