Do a lot of people get pancreatitis, chronic?

Yes: It is unfortunately a relatively common chronic condition. Habitual alcohol use is the most common cause in the United States.

Not common: Many more people get acute pancreatitis, due to gallstones that got stuck along the pathway, alcohol, trauma, meds, high triglycerides (>800-1000). Chronic pancreatitis most commonly seen in chronic alcohol abusers, with recurrent episodes of pancreatitis, induced by continued intake of alcohol.