For Elena Torrell, an early career researcher in public health, the question about what alcohol really costs society became the starting point of a study that would reveal the scale of alcohol’s economic impact.
As part of her master’s thesis in Barcelona, Spain, she set out to estimate the social and financial costs of alcohol consumption in Catalonia, illustrating how the next generation of researchers is contributing to evidence that can inform public health policy.
“In our research, we estimated that the total societal costs related to alcohol consumption in the Region of Catalonia amounted to around €555 million in one year,” Elena explains. “And that would be a conservative proxy of the actual total cost.”
The analysis examined both direct costs, such as alcohol-related hospitalizations, and indirect costs, including lost productivity due to illness, premature death or time away from work.
Research embedded in policy practice
Elena conducted the research in collaboration within the Subdirectorate General for Addictions, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Viral Hepatitis at the Department of Health of the Government of Catalonia. During her thesis, she spent several days each week working alongside epidemiologists and policy experts discussing indicators, data sources and analytical approaches.
The work required combining routine health data with research datasets to build a comprehensive picture of alcohol-related harm across society.
Such studies provide a critical tool for policy-makers. By quantifying economic impact, they help governments understand the full societal burden of alcohol and support more informed policy decisions.
As Luisa Maria Conejos Ara, Deputy-Director of Addictions, HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis, explains, studies of economic costs help decision-makers see the wider impact of alcohol beyond health indicators alone.
“It is a very necessary instrument to assess policies and to choose the best options for addressing a specific problem,” she says. “It allows us to see the impact beyond morbidity and mortality.”
A WHO collaborating centre supporting research and policy
The team Elena worked with is part of the Subdirectorate, designated in 2023 in Barcelona as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Substance Use, Noncommunicable Diseases and Policy Impact.
With more than 35 years of experience in addiction research and policy, the Centre supports WHO by strengthening research capacity, training professionals and translating scientific evidence into public health practice.
A key part of the Centre’s work is supporting and mentoring early career researchers. Through partnerships with universities, the Centre supervises master’s and doctoral theses and hosts young researchers who spend time working with its teams as part of their training.
“We need a new generation of professionals who bring new methodologies, new perspectives and new criteria,” explains Lidia Segura, who was Elena’s supervisor at the Subdirectorate. “For us, it is essential to support young researchers who will continue this work in the future.”
Elena’s experience reflects this approach. Although her background was not originally in public health, Elena quickly adapted to the demands of the project while working closely with experienced researchers.
“It was really a challenging job to organize all those data sources, but I liked having to think outside the box, combining diligence with creativity,” she says.
Connecting research networks across Europe
The Centre’s commitment to supporting young researchers was also reflected in the 2023 research-to-policy conference on alcohol control policies, organized by WHO/Europe and the Centre.
The event brought together researchers, policy-makers and public health experts from across the WHO European Region to discuss emerging evidence, including alcohol labelling and screening and brief interventions.
Early career researchers played a specific role, presenting the results of their projects and contributing to discussions through the WHO/European Union Evidence into Action Alcohol Project’s (EVID-ACTION) early career research network.
The next generation standing with science
For Elena, the experience reinforced how research can help bridge the gap between evidence and policy.
“In the future I would like to contribute to providing the data and evidence that policy-makers need to implement change,” she says.
Elena’s work highlights the importance of investing in young researchers and strengthening the evidence base for public health action.
“Addressing complex public health challenges – from alcohol-related harm to other noncommunicable diseases – requires strong, continuously evolving evidence,” says Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, Regional Advisor on Alcohol for WHO/Europe.
“This is why investing in early career researchers is so important. They bring new perspectives, methodological innovation and the ability to engage with rapidly changing environments. Strengthening this new generation of scientists is essential to ensuring that policies remain responsive, relevant and grounded in science,” Dr Ferreira-Borges concludes.
In line with this year’s World Health Day theme, “Together for Health: Stand with Science”, the experience of the Barcelona WHO Collaborating Centre demonstrates how collaboration across generations can strengthen the evidence needed to address major public health challenges, including alcohol-related harm.