Alcohol-related complications like pancreatitis and liver disease are climbing rapidly among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), according to a new population-based study. The findings highlight a worrying trend in alcohol-related harm among individuals aged 13 to 39, with young women experiencing the steepest increases.
Researchers analysed healthcare data from over 11,500 AYAs in Ontario, Canada, who were treated for alcohol-related organ damage between 2003 and 2021. Pancreatic complications, including acute and chronic pancreatitis, were the most common, accounting for 29% of cases, outpacing liver-related issues like cirrhosis and hepatitis, which made up 19%.
The study revealed an annual 7% increase in alcohol-associated pancreatitis among young men and a striking 12% increase among young women. Liver-related conditions rose by 6% per year in males and 9% in females. Other alcohol-related complications affecting organs like the heart and stomach showed either stable or declining trends, underscoring the outsized burden of gastrointestinal harm.
Most patients with pancreatic complications were male, lived in urban areas, and required hospitalisation. However, the rate of increase among young women signals a narrowing gender gap and raises concern about changing patterns of alcohol use.
The authors stress the need for gastroenterologists to be equipped to manage alcohol-related complications and call for better integration of addiction medicine into gastrointestinal care. They also advocate for future research to explore underlying causes and address the growing burden of alcohol harm among youth.
Reference
Chapman O et al. Alcohol-Associated Pancreatitis and Liver Disease Among Adolescents and Young Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(2):e2461990.
