According to the guest lecture, what percent of worldwide deaths are attributable to substance abuse?

• A. 5%
• B. 20%
• C. 2.5%
• D. 12.5%

Answer: (D)

The point being tested is the scale of the global mortality burden from substance misuse as reported by the guest lecturer. The best answer, 12.5%, reflects a substantial share—about one in eight worldwide deaths—attributed to substance abuse. This estimate comes from adding together the direct harms (such as overdoses and liver disease from alcohol) and the indirect effects (like accidents, cardiovascular problems, infections, and social factors) linked to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The figure emphasizes how large a role substance misuse plays in global mortality and why prevention and treatment are critical public health priorities.

The other options understate or overstate the burden relative to the lecture’s figure. For example, 5% would miss a sizable portion of deaths tied to substance-related causes, 2.5% would be too small, and 20% would overestimate the global impact for all substances considered together.