Alcohol and substance abuse are linked to an estimated 80 to 100 deaths each day, according to Dr. Manoj Fernando, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Rajarata University.
Dr. Fernando gave the estimate on August 28 at a press conference on illicit drug prevention and education.
The event was held under “A Nation United – National Drive”, a campaign launched by Sri Lanka Police to curb the spread of narcotics.
Dr. Fernando said no other single cause accounts for such a high number of deaths each day.
He said smoking accounts for the highest number of deaths linked to substance use. Alcohol alone, he estimated, causes 10 to 15 deaths a day.
He also said illicit drug use has increased significantly.
Smoking and alcohol can create a pathway
Dr. Fernando warned that legal substances can create a pathway towards illegal drugs.
“A major reason for the use of most illegal drugs in Sri Lanka is the gateway created by legal substances. Smoking acts as a primary entry point in Sri Lanka,” he said.
He said evidence shows that many people who later used heroin had smoked before. He also said people who later used cannabis had generally used alcohol or cigarettes first.
Dr. Fernando said the exact number of deaths linked to individual illicit drugs remains difficult to establish.
However, he said available estimates suggest that another 10 to 15 people die each day because of illicit drugs.
He also pointed to the health damage caused by smoking and the wider effects of substance abuse on families and communities.
The cost goes beyond the number of deaths
Dr. Fernando said substance abuse also carries a wider economic and social cost.
The impact can reach families, communities and the wider economy, he said.
When a person dies or becomes unable to work because of substance abuse, the effect can extend beyond that individual. Families can lose income, while employers and communities can also face the consequences.
Dr. Fernando said the daily death toll shows why prevention needs to start before people reach illicit drugs.
The A Nation United – National Drive campaign is being used by Police to raise awareness and tackle the spread of narcotics.
The figures shared by Dr. Fernando highlight the scale of the issue, while also pointing to the role of smoking and alcohol in the wider substance-use problem.
Last modified: August 29, 2026
