In Russia, the number of diagnosed cases of alcoholism has reached its highest level in nine years, despite the government's efforts to limit alcohol consumption, writes the British publication The Telegraph, citing official statistics and an investigation by Russian journalists.
According to the publication, the rate of diagnosed alcoholism or alcoholic psychosis in 2025 will be 56.9 people per 100,000 people – the highest level since 2016.
An analysis of official data from the Russian Ministry of Health has found that alcoholism has increased in 69 of the country’s 83 regions. The real picture, however, is likely much worse, as many people with alcohol addiction do not seek medical help or do not have access to it.
This timeline of events demonstrates a clear link between Russia’s war in Ukraine and the rise in alcohol problems. Until 2022, the year before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, alcoholism levels in the country had been gradually decreasing. However, since the war began, Rosstat statistics have recorded a steady increase in diagnosed alcohol addiction.
The most dramatic increase was observed between 2024 and 2025 – 30% increase, which is a record increase in the history of observations.
The publication notes that despite the state program to reduce alcohol consumption by 2030, sales of strong alcohol in 2024 increased to their highest level in eight years, reaching 8.5 liters per capita, of which 5.3 liters of vodka. The government has imposed a number of restrictions: a ban on discounts on alcoholic beverages, a ban on placing them near cash registers, a curfew in some regions, and increased distances between alcohol stores and residential buildings or schools. In the Vologda region, for example, alcohol sales on weekdays were limited to two hours a day. However, as The Telegraph points out, these measures have not had the desired effect.
Addiction specialist Oleg Dmitriev in an interview with Radio “Liberty“ in 2024 spoke about the critical situation with alcoholism among mobilized soldiers.
“Relatives of mobilized soldiers contacted me and told me that vodka is being delivered there in crates, sales are uncontrolled and people are getting drunk on the spot to the point of psychosis“, he said.
He stressed that such cases are probably not reflected in official statistics.
According to experts, alcoholism has become especially widespread in the Russian army. Some servicemen and bloggers claim that Moscow is even recruiting people from rehabilitation centers to fight in the war in Ukraine. Human rights groups have documented numerous cases of intoxicated men being tricked or forced into signing military contracts.
Alcohol addiction has also become a common problem among veterans and demobilized soldiers, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and aggressive outbursts.
Along with alcoholism, the use of antidepressants has skyrocketed in Russia. According to the analytical company DSM, sales of drugs like Prozac almost doubled from 2022 to 2025.