Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

• On the basis of current research, it cannot be concluded with certainty, whether
alcohol use is the (only) cause. However, the results of animal experiments do point
to a causal association.
Deaths
The number of alcohol-related deaths showed a rising trend from 1996 through 2003.
In 2004 there was evidence of a slight decline, and the number of alcohol-related deaths
has remained stable since then.
• According to the Causes of Death Statistics of Statistics Netherlands, in 2008 a total
of 1,724 people died of causes linked specifically to alcohol, almost 2% more than
in 2007 (Figure 7.9).
• In 2008, alcohol was stated to be the primary cause of death in 44% of all alcoholrelated
deaths; in the remaining 56%, alcohol use was the secondary cause of
death.
• In 2008, dependence and other mental disorders caused by alcohol use were the main
causes of alcohol-related death (61%), followed by alcoholic liver disease (34%).
• Alcohol-related deaths were most prevalent in the age group from 55 to 59 (Figure
7.10). Most of those who died were male (75%).
• The role of alcohol use in deaths is not always identified. Therefore these figures do
not fully reflect the true situation.
- On the basis of epidemiological research it is thought that between four and six
percent of cancer deaths are linked to chronic excessive alcohol use. This would
mean that in 2008, between 1 675 and 2 510 alcohol-related cancer deaths took
place. In 2002, only 150 such cases were actually registered (Van Leeuwen, 1999;
Verdurmen et al., 2004).
- It may also be assumed that deaths caused by alcohol-related accidents and alcoholrelated
aggression are not included fully in these figures.
170 Netherlands National Drug Monitor - NDM Annual Report 2009