New evidence suggests alcohol related liver disease may be more widespread

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and liver disease may be on the rise. New evidence suggests alcohol related liver disease may be nearly twice as widespread as earlier estimates.

According to the Institute of Addiction Medicine, alcohol-related liver disease may be nearly twice as widespread as previously thought largely because people often do not report how much they drink.

Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, executive director of the Institute of Addiction Medicine, said, "It's really important that you tell your doctor honestly which or how much you’re drinking because if you diagnose the problem early, it's much more easy to treat."

If you or someone you know may be struggling with alcohol use, help is available. For more information and resources, please visit Responsibility.org, pcss-maud.org, and niaaa.nih.gov.