Doctors stress responsible drinking during Alcohol Awareness Month

Tampa, Fla. (WFLA) — April is Alcohol Awareness Month and doctors are alarmed by an uptick in health issues related to excessive drinking.

Doctors are tracking a jump in the number of younger patients developing alcohol-related liver disease. They say the number of cases among patients in their 20s and 30s is sharply rising, especially among women. The disease typically has no symptoms in its early stages but can eventually lead to fatigue and unexpected weight loss.

According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths caused by excessive alcohol use jumped 29 percent between 2017 and 2021.

“We don’t treat alcohol the same way as we think about other drugs like cocaine and tobacco even, and education is key, a lot of people don’t know what safer alcohol intake looks like,” said Dr. Christine Machado-Denis, Tampa General Hospital’s clinical director of transplant psychology.

Experts say more people turned to drinking during the pandemic and the number has continued to stay high. That includes underage people.

“In 2022, 29.5 million people ages twelve and older met criteria for alcohol use disorder,” Dr. Machado-Denis said.

Statistics show only 7 percent of people struggling with alcohol addiction seek help. There are many resources available for help, including the 211 hotline with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

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