Addressing Alcohol Abuse During the Pandemic

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol abuse increased across the United States, which led to an alarming increase in the annual number of alcohol-related deaths.

Alcohol Abuse Skyrocketed During the Covid-19 Pandemic 

According to a February 2024 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of about 488 people died every day as a result of excessive alcohol use during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. This number included deaths that were either fully or partially attributable to alcohol use:

• Examples of causes of death that were fully attributable to alcohol include alcohol liver disease, alcohol cardiomyopathy, alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis, fetal alcohol syndrome, and alcohol poisoning.
• Examples of partially attributable alcohol-related deaths include those that were caused by drunk driving, alcohol-related homicide, and diseases (such as certain cancers) for which alcohol use is one of several risk factors.

Regardless of whether or not there is a pandemic, alcohol is involved in thousands of deaths every year in the U.S., and the annual number of alcohol-related deaths has been rising for many years. However, the following statistics from the same CDC report that we cited earlier underscore the dramatic impact of the pandemic:

• In the two-year period immediately prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2019), the CDC recorded an annual average of 145,253 deaths due to alcohol abuse. 
• During the period that included the first two years of the pandemic (2020-2021), an average of 178,307 annual deaths were attributed to alcohol abuse. This represented a 22.8% increase from the previous period.
• From 2016-2017 to 2020-2021, the average annual number of alcohol-related deaths among girls and women rose by 34.7% (from 43,565 per year to 58,701 per year).
• Over the same period, the average annual number of deaths among men that involved alcohol abuse increased by 26.8% (from 94,362 per year to 119,606 per year).

Why Did People Drink Alcohol at a Higher Rate During the Pandemic?

The CDC report suggested that the following causes may have contributed to the rise in alcohol abuse and alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic:

• Changes in laws that expanded access to alcohol carryout and delivery services
• Liquor stores being deemed essential and thus not affected by mandatory shutdowns
• Patients avoiding emergency rooms or otherwise delaying treatment for alcohol-related health problems due to fear of contracting COVID
• The cumulative impact of stress, loneliness, and isolation

About six months before the CDC release its report on the increase in alcohol-related deaths, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified stress and isolation as driving forces behind elevated alcohol consumption during the pandemic. 

In that July 2023 report, George F. Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, noted that public health officials had observed an escalation of alcohol use in the aftermath of previous crises, including the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

However, while these events were sources of considerable fear and stress, they did not cause the levels of isolation that many people endured as a result of the social distancing measures that were instituted during the early months of the pandemic. This lack of connection and interpersonal support, Koob noted, may also have contributed to an increase in alcohol consumption.

How to Combat Alcohol Misuse if We Ever Have Another Lockdown

Hopefully, we won’t be faced with another pandemic or any other crises that lead to a lockdown. But if we do, there are some simple yet vital steps you can take to minimize your risk of abusing alcohol or other drugs:

• Avoid isolation: Even if you can’t physically get together with friends or family members, there are many ways to keep in touch. Emails, text messages, online videoconferencing software, and even old-fashioned phone calls can help you keep the lines of communication open with those you care most about.
• Practice self-care: Follow a balanced diet. Incorporate physical activity into your daily schedule. Get a healthy amount of sleep every night. These practices can help you maintain your physical strength and mental clarity, which can, in turn, empower you to overcome destructive urges like the compulsion to abuse alcohol or other drugs.
• Find healthy ways to respond to stress: Meditate. Write in your journal. Go for long walks or bike rides. Spend time in your garden. These are just a few examples of the types of activities that can help you deal with stress without resorting to substance abuse. They can also help you find meaning and purpose during times when you’re not able to connect with friends and family.
• Talk to a professional: We’ll discuss this in greater detail in the next section, but you should never be ashamed to seek professional help when you’re struggling to overcome a mental or behavioral health challenge. The self-help tips that we listed above can be extremely helpful in many situations – but they are not cure-alls. Sometimes, the best gift you can give yourself is the opportunity to receive focused guidance from an experienced professional.

Getting Help for Alcohol Abuse and Isolation

The dangers of alcohol abuse and isolation aren’t limited to pandemics or other widespread public health crises. If you are concerned about your ability to control your drinking, or if your struggles with alcohol abuse have already begun to isolate you from loved ones, it may be time to start seriously considering professional help.

There is no single technique or course of treatment that’s perfect for every person whose life has been disrupted by compulsive alcohol abuse. Thus, you should focus your attention on finding an alcohol rehab provider who can accurately assess the full scope of your needs, then develop a customized plan just for you.

When you contact providers to learn more about their programs and services, the following questions can help you identify the best place for you:

• How will you determine which treatment options are right for me?
• What are the qualifications of the professionals who will be providing my care?
• How will you decide how long I need to remain in treatment?
• Can you describe your safety policies and protocols?
• Do you treat co-occurring mental health concerns as well as alcohol abuse?
• How do you define a successful treatment experience at your facility?
• What happens if I have a relapse after I complete treatment?
• Does your facility accept my insurance?

Contact Phoenix Rising Recovery in Palm Desert, California Today

Phoenix Rising Recovery offers a full continuum of customized services for adults who have been impacted by alcoholism, other forms of addiction, and certain co-occurring mental health concerns. 

Your options at our alcohol recovery center in Palm Desert, California, include detox, 30- or 90-day residential rehab, and multiple levels of outpatient care. In each of these programs, you will have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with a team of skilled and experienced professionals. We understand that every person who struggles with alcoholism is impacted in a unique way, and we are committed to providing you with a truly personalized treatment experience.

To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.