United Kingdom consonant with ill health of affluent nations amidst rising mortality due to substance abuse and violence | Well-being

The UK is increasingly concerning as it becomes known as “the sick person of the wealthy world” due to a rising number of deaths from drugs, suicide, and violence, according to research findings. Compared to other wealthy nations, death rates among under-50s in the UK have worsened in recent years, as shown by an international study. While mortality due to cancer and heart disease has decreased, the number of deaths resulting from injuries, accidents, and poisonings has increased, especially due to the use of illicit drugs. The study emphasizes that Britain is no longer in sync with other prosperous countries, most of which have seen improvements in deaths from such causes. The study’s authors are from the Health Foundation think tank and are based on an in-depth investigation of health and mortality patterns across 22 nations by academics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). They conclude that the UK’s health is deteriorating. The UK’s rising mortality is particularly evident among working-age individuals, aged 25 to 49, with a 46% increase in deaths among women and a 31% increase among men between 1990 and 2023. In contrast, mortality has decreased in 19 of the 21 other countries studied, with only the US and Canada showing similar increases. The findings highlight the critical need for addressing mortality and ensuring better health outcomes, especially among younger populations.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/20/uk-sick-person-of-wealthy-world-deaths-drugs-violence