Spotlight Series

Alcohol Use Disorder: A Growing Public Health and Economic Threat

August 12, 2025

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is not only widespread; it’s intensifying. With nearly half a million Americans dying from alcohol-related causes every year and 400 million individuals affected globally, the burden is staggering.

Here at Adial Pharmaceuticals, we reviewed publicly available data on the public health consequences of alcohol abuse, revealing alarming patterns in mortality, treatment gaps, and system-wide costs. With over $249 billion in annual costs and rising rates of liver disease, cancer, and cardiovascular deaths tied to alcohol, the economic burden is growing across sectors. The U.S. alone sees nearly 180,000 alcohol-related deaths each year—yet fewer than 10% of individuals with AUD receive care, and only a fraction receive evidence-based medication.

For investors and health policymakers, the data signals both a warning and an opportunity. Scalable treatment models that go beyond abstinence and address the real-world behaviors of people living with AUD—such as Adial’s personalized harm-reduction approach with AD04—are increasingly urgent. For real impact, the next wave of innovation must improve outcomes and support patients in achieving meaningful reductions in alcohol consumption.