“It is much more important to know what sort of patient has a disease than what sort of disease a patient has.”
— William Osler
Alcohol-associated liver disease remains one of the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver transplantation, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. Liver injury can occur across a wide spectrum of alcohol use, sometimes before dependence is recognized, and risk is influenced by factors such as drinking patterns, sex, genetics, and metabolic health. The important message is that alcohol-related liver disease is common, and it is treatable.
Recovery is now recognized as a core part of medical care, not a moral judgment. Reducing or stopping alcohol use improves liver outcomes at every stage of disease, and even partial reduction can be beneficial in earlier disease. For people with advanced liver disease, abstinence is critical, but long-term success is strongest when patients are supported rather than judged.
In 2025, recovery support looks very different than in the past. Care is increasingly integrated, combining hepatology, addiction medicine, mental health, and social support. Options include counseling, peer support, telehealth programs, and medications when appropriate. For patients being evaluated for liver transplant, the focus has shifted toward engagement in recovery, insight, and ongoing support, recognizing that sustained recovery is a process, not a single checkpoint.