Burden of Health Conditions Attributable to Smoking and Alcohol by Public Health Unit in Ontario
This report illustrates the burden of disease and injury linked to smoking and alcohol consumption across Ontario, including estimates of the number of deaths, hospitalizations and emergency department visits caused by smoking and alcohol consumption for Ontario and by public health unit. The report also includes a discussion of tobacco and alcohol control strategies for preventing and reducing smoking and alcohol consumption. The data presented in this report can be used to support local system planning and opportunities for policy development to prevent and reduce smoking and alcohol consumption.
Key findings in the report:
- Each year in Ontario, smoking causes approximately 16,673 deaths, 68,046 hospitalizations and 125,384 emergency department visits. These make up 17% of deaths, 8.7% of hospitalizations and 3.4% of emergency department visits from all causes in people age 35 and older.
- Alcohol consumption causes approximately 4,330 deaths, 22,009 hospitalizations and 194,692 emergency department visits. These make up 4.3% of deaths, 2.1% of hospitalizations and 3.7% of emergency department visits from all causes in people age 15 and older.
- Comprehensive tobacco and alcohol control strategies are needed to prevent and reduce smoking and alcohol consumption.
This report was produced collaboratively by Ontario Health and Public Health Ontario. This report does not include information on the impact of COVID-19 on smoking and alcohol attributable harms, as the available data only went up to 2019 at the time of analysis.
Supporting Resources
PHO Rounds: Alcohol Risk and Policy: Impacts of alcohol container labels
This PHO Rounds will present our research and objectives, which included establishing the effects of ACL with health warnings, standard drink information and low risk drinking guidance.
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