Young Adult Fiction for Adults discussion

I’d really value your thoughts on something.

I’ve written a novel called Last Round at Lottie’s (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
), which tackles addiction through humour, flawed characters, and some very uncomfortable truths. The story centres on Lottie’s struggle with alcohol and the messy reality of trying to change.

It got me thinking — do you feel social topics like addiction belong in books aimed at young adults?

Can stories about real-life struggles help younger readers build empathy and understanding? Or is there a risk of it feeling too heavy?

Where do you draw the line? Is it about age, tone, or how the subject is handled?

I’d genuinely appreciate your perspective.

Thanks
Chris