Why Public Awareness on Deadly Alcoholism Must Catch Up
A Growing Public Health Crisis
In recent years, the United States has seen a disturbing surge in deaths from alcohol-related liver disease. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that between 1999 and 2022, more than 436,000 people died from liver damage linked to excessive alcohol use. The death rate nearly doubled. It went from 6.7 to 12.5 per 100,000 – a staggering 87% increase.
What’s especially concerning is how this trend accelerated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolation, financial stress, and mental health struggles fueled a sharp rise in alcohol use, leading to more hospitalizations and deaths tied to alcohol use disorder.
The Pandemic’s Toll on Alcohol Abuse
Stressors linked to the pandemic, such as loneliness, financial instability, and poor mental health, caused the yearly mortality rate to rise at a faster pace. From 2018 to 2022, annual deaths from alcohol-related liver disease rose by 9% each year. Young adults between the ages of 25 and 44 saw a 4.2% yearly increase, and women experienced an even higher annual rise in mortality than men (from 2.5% up to 4.3%).
Communities of color, especially American Indian and Alaska Native populations, were hit hardest – experiencing nearly 47 deaths per 100,000 people, roughly four times the national average.
This alarming data highlights how alcoholism and mental health are deeply intertwined. People facing depression, anxiety, or unresolved trauma often turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism—especially when access to healthy outlets and support systems is limited.
Public Perception on Alcohol Abuse Hasn’t Caught Up with Reality
According to LPC-Associate Thomas Fryar of Prasad Counseling & Training, public education about the long-term risks of alcohol lags far behind the anti-smoking campaigns that reshaped how society views tobacco.
“The efforts to educate people on the risks of alcohol have been lesser, and popular media tends to still show drinking in a mostly positive context.”
“Drinking is often sold as a way to temporarily escape your problems,” Fryar explains. “It doesn’t surprise me that alcohol use rose during the pandemic. A lack of education on the risk factors and what leads an individual to develop an alcohol use disorder in the first place can explain how so many people became addicted during the pandemic when they chose alcohol use as their preferred method of escapism.”
A Call to Action: Education, Prevention & Mental Health Support
Alcohol-related deaths are on the rise, emphasizing the need for immediate action, while deaths from other liver illnesses, such as hepatitis C, are decreasing. Public health priorities must include improved access to treatment, more comprehensive alcohol education, and targeted prevention.
- Comprehensive alcohol education from an early age
- Improved access to mental health and substance use treatment
- Culturally responsive prevention strategies for disproportionately affected groups
- De-stigmatizing therapy and support services for those struggling with alcohol dependency
It’s clear that education alone is not enough—people need safe, supportive spaces to heal.
Counseling For Recovery
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol use disorder, there is help. At Prasad Counseling & Training, our experienced team offers compassionate, personalized support for individuals navigating the complex relationship between alcohol use and mental health.
Learn about our Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment options.
Whether you’re looking to understand your drinking patterns, heal from trauma, or find healthier coping tools, our counselors are here to guide you—without judgment.
Reach out today to begin the healing process. You don’t have to face this alone. Contact our counseling practice to learn what options you have to seek help. Prasad Counseling and Training is a group practice located in Houston, Texas providing a wide range of counseling options for people of all ages, including for individuals, families and couples.
