- Alcohol-related liver disease deaths in the U.S. have roughly doubled between 1999 and 2022, with a significant increase during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a group of physicians.
- Mortality rates from alcohol-associated liver disease surged from 6.7 to 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people during the studied period, with a higher annual increase among women and concerning trends among young people.
- American Indian or Alaska Native populations experienced the highest death rates, increasing from approximately 25 to nearly 47 per 100,000 between 1999 and 2022.
- Mortality rates surged an annual average of 9 percent from 2018 to 2022, attributed to pandemic-related stressors like financial insecurity and social isolation, leading to increased drinking.
- The findings indicate an urgent need for enhanced screening, improved addiction treatment access, and targeted interventions for high-risk groups, doctors say.
IN FULL
