Alcohol Liver Disease Deaths Doubled Since 1999

National mortality rates rose significantly, with women and younger adults seeing the fastest increases in risk.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Substance Abuse

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stylized liver silhouette, conveying the gravity of national public health mortality trends. — Alcohol-associated liver disease mortality rates in the U.S. have nearly doubled since 1999, with women and younger adults facing the highest increased risks. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust that your medical providers discuss alcohol health risks without using stigmatizing language?

Between 1999 and 2022, the U.S. age-adjusted mortality rate for alcohol-associated liver disease nearly doubled. This trend, which resulted in over 436,000 deaths, disproportionately impacted women and adults aged 25 to 44.

Why it matters

Stigma surrounding alcohol use often prevents early detection and clinical intervention for liver damage. Understanding these biological and social risks is essential for timely discussions with healthcare providers regarding alcohol consumption and liver health.

A retrospective analysis of 436,814 deaths recorded from 1999 to 2022 found that age-adjusted mortality rose from 6.71 to 12.53 per 100,000 individuals. While men accounted for 70.7% of total deaths, accelerated increases were observed in women and adults aged 25 to 44.

The players

Frances Lee

A participant in the Mount Sinai REACH Program who joined in April 2025.

Mount Sinai

A medical system that operates the REACH Program, which integrates hepatology care with addiction treatment.

The details

Alcohol-associated liver disease progresses as chronic exposure to alcohol causes inflammation and injury to liver cells. Women are biologically more susceptible to higher blood alcohol concentrations than men after consuming the same amount due to differences in body water and composition. Emerging research from 2025 also suggests that specific genetic variants, such as PNPLA3 and TM6SF2, may increase the risk of fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction and alcohol use.

1999-2022: Period of tracked mortality data.
2018-2022: Period of accelerated mortality increases.
April 2025: Frances Lee joined the Mount Sinai REACH Program.

Health Landscape

The clinical response to rising liver mortality is shifting toward integrated care models that treat substance use and liver health concurrently. The Mount Sinai REACH Program represents an effort to bridge these disciplines to improve patient outcomes.

If you are concerned about your alcohol consumption, talk to your doctor about your liver health and any family history of metabolic disease. These findings highlight that early screening is important, particularly for those with existing risk factors.

The takeaway

The mortality trend underscores the critical need for early clinical intervention in patients with high alcohol intake. Consider discussing your alcohol consumption patterns with your primary care provider to assess your risk for liver-related health issues.