MORE young people are suffering serious alcohol-related liver problems which could put a huge strain on organ transplant services in the future, a top East Lancashire doctor has warned.

Dr Vishal Kaushik, consultant gastroenterologist and alcohol lead for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said people in their late 20s were now showing signs of liver cirrhosis – fibrous scar tissue developing as a complication of chronic liver disease – because of their drinking.

He said even more young adults were arriving at hospital suffering fits and tremors through alcohol toxicity or withdrawal, alongside big increases in alcohol-related injuries.

Figures released this week by the North West Health Observatory showed continuing high rates of alcohol-related death, above both the regional and national average, among both men and women in East Lancash-ire. The admissions to hospital through alcohol-related injuries or disease in East Lan-cashire more than doubled between 2003 and 2005, and increased by a further 43 per cent between 2005 and 2007.

And with Alcohol Awareness week running until Sunday, Dr Kaushik has called on the Government to introduce mandatory increased pricing for alcohol in an effort to reduce young people’s intake.

He said: “A decade ago, you would see patients with liver cirrhosis who were in their late 40s or 50s, and only very occasionally any younger.

“Now we are seeing patients in their 30s or even late 20s. Fortunately, it is still relatively rare, but the numbers are definitely growing.

“These cases tend to be people who have been drinking large amounts since they were 12 or 13, but it is clear that many children now drink heavily at that age.

“If the trend continues, there will be enormous pressure on organ transplant services, because it will be difficult to justify not giving transplants to such young people.”

He added: “Alcohol is also strongly linked to mental health problems. Many are existing problems triggered by drinking, but often they can be entirely attributed to alcohol.

“We are now seeing more women with a whole spectrum of alcohol-related harm, and I have seen cases of people in their 30s or 40s needing nursing home care because alcohol has caused so much damage to their brains that it has left them unable to walk properly or look after themselves.”

Dr Kaushik said: “The impact of higher pricing has been shown in other European countries, where consumption has fallen.”