The findings that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy significantly alter alcohol pharmacokinetics, increasing peak BAC and potentially elevating the risk of AUD and alcohol-associated liver disease underscore the importance of tailored patient counseling and monitoring. Noteworthy, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently endorsed metabolic surgeries to treat severe obesity for adolescents aged 13 years and older (310). Around the same time, the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) study reported that 47% of adolescents who underwent such surgeries screened positive for potential hazardous drinking or AUD symptoms eight years later (309). While metabolic surgeries are effective for severe obesity, it is critical to ensure that healthcare professionals, patients, and families understand the profound impact on alcohol metabolism post-surgery.
