A stark and growing public health crisis is emerging in England: men in the most deprived areas are over five times more likely to die from alcohol and drug-related causes than those in the most affluent regions. This alarming figure comes from a new report by The King’s Fund, released during Men’s Health Week, shining a light on what the charity calls “entrenched and widening” inequalities.
Men Dying Younger — and Needlessly
Official data reveals that the average life expectancy for men in the UK is 78.8 years, nearly four years shorter than women, who average 82.8 years (ONS). Men are also nearly twice as likely to die prematurely from:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Lung cancer
- Liver disease
- Accidents and injuries
These disparities are at their worst in the North of England and Scotland, where deprivation and poor health are deeply connected.
What Are ‘Deaths of Despair’?
“Deaths of despair” refer to fatalities from alcohol and drug misuse and suicide — all highly preventable and often rooted in social and economic hardship. The King’s Fund highlights that in 2020, death rates for these causes amongst men in deprived areas were more than five times higher than in affluent areas.
A Policy Gap Ignoring Men’s Health
Despite these figures, public health strategies largely fail to target male health needs. Austerity measures, underfunded mental health services, and regional deprivation have all worsened the crisis. According to the King’s Fund, these are not just unfortunate deaths — they are preventable outcomes of systemic neglect.
