Alcohol consumption in this country causes 4 times as many deaths as drug abuse.
I would be interested to see the source of that figure, however I don't dispute it. Although, I do suspect it will be a rather meaningless figure as will become apparent:
Firstly, what proportion of adults, 18-60, drink in this country? I think a reasonable estimate is 80%, maybe even 90%. It is my experience that most non-drinkers either do it for a) religious reasons, b) medical reasons or c) because they are a recovered alcoholic. From my experience, I would estimate that no more than 10% of non-drinkers do it just for the sake of being a non-drinker.
Secondly, what proportion of adults, 18-60, take illegal drugs in this country? I would bet it is a lot smaller fraction.
Now answer the following:
What percentage of those adults ALSO drink alcohol?
What about indirect effects? Yes, a small fraction of people get violent when drunk (although I think it is highly likely that most violent drunks are also violent when sobre) I've never been threatened by a guy who wanted money for a pint...
I've only ever been the victim of a burglary once, they only took cash and cigarettes, the police said this was druggies because of that. Apparently druggies don't have the wherewithall or time to fence TVs and such.
How many drug-related incidents go unreported as such because Police STILL don't have the means to test for drugs (despite those paper strips they were trialling)? If you snort some cocaine and drink some beers and then get caught driving, you are tested for alcohol but not cocaine. So that is what it is recorded as and that is what you are charged for. Even if they find cocaine in the car they won't charge you with "driving whilst under the influence of cocaine".