A study led by researchers from the Federal University of Alagoas (Ufal) has revealed a significant increase in deaths associated with alcohol and drug consumption in the Brazilian state of Alagoas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) between 2015 and 2022 indicate that in 2020, the state recorded 532 deaths, a 16.3% rise compared to the annual average of the previous five years, which was 457 deaths. This trend continued into 2021 with 475 deaths, marking a 3.1% increase from historical averages, and slightly decreased to 467 deaths in 2022, reflecting a 2.7% rise prior to the pandemic.