Deaths from alcohol-associated liver disease in the United States have roughly doubled between 1999 and 2022, according to a new study by a group of physicians published in JAMA Network Open, the Independent reports.
The findings show a significant rise in mortality, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and call for urgent public health action.
The study analyzed 436,814 recorded deaths over the 23-year period and found that mortality rates from alcohol-related liver disease rose from 6.7 to 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Researchers observed a sharp acceleration in the years 2018 to 2022, with an annual average increase of 9%, which they attributed to pandemic-related factors such as financial strain, social isolation, and increased alcohol consumption.
While mortality increased across most demographic groups, some populations were disproportionately affected. American Indian or Alaska Native communities experienced the highest death rates, rising from around 25 to nearly 47 per 100,000 people. Rates among white Americans also climbed steadily, while deaths among Black Americans, which had previously declined, began rising again in 2019—accelerating at a rate of approximately 21% annually through 2022.
The study also noted higher annual increases in mortality among women and “concerning trends” among younger individuals, suggesting a shifting and widening impact of alcohol-related harm.
“This rise comes at a time when other liver diseases, such as hepatitis C, have declined—highlighting alcohol as a growing contributor to liver-related mortality,” the researchers stated.
The study’s authors emphasized that these findings underscore the need for comprehensive public health strategies. They advocate for enhanced screening efforts, improved access to addiction treatment, and targeted outreach to vulnerable populations. Long-term monitoring and evaluation of intervention programs will also be essential, they said, to address what they characterize as a growing public health crisis.
These results follow similar recent research that found alcohol-related cancer deaths have also doubled in recent decades, with many of the same patterns—such as post-pandemic spikes and increasing rates among women—mirrored in both studies.
Health experts continue to call for greater awareness, policy change, and support services to combat rising alcohol-related harm in the US.
