Consumption of alcohol and its impact on the liver is a widely discussed topic in the health sector. The impact of consuming huge amounts of alcohol is known to all, but what remains unknown and unexplored is the data behind this. Alcohol-related liver diseases are rising, especially among young adults. As per a report published in the Journal of hepatology in 2023, liver disease accounts for two million deaths annually and is responsible for 4% of all deaths (1 out of every 25 deaths worldwide) and alcohol is one of the most common risk factors.
Alcohol-related liver diseases and other chronic liver diseases account for more than 2% of the deaths in India. For instance, Goa Medical College data reveals that out of the 5,500 patients admitted every month, 25% could have alcohol-related issues. Since 2021, Goa Medical College has been seeing more than 300 deaths annually due to alcoholic liver disease. And the profile of the typical patient is changing too. A few years ago, patients in their mid-forties and fifties would get liver cirrhosis, but today, it isn't common to see even men in their early twenties. The age of drinking has fallen. Also, the quantity of drink consumed in a single sitting by some is high,” said senior psychiatrist Dr Rajesh Dhume, who is also a nodal officer at Drug Treatment Centre (DTC), North Goa district hospital told TOI.
