It could become a crisis.
A new study reveals that despite the easing of pandemic pressures, Americans’ reliance on alcohol has continued to rise, with troubling implications for public health. The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, found that not only did alcohol consumption increase from 2020 to 2022, but there was also a rise in binge and heavy drinking. Researchers suggested that the sustained uptick in alcohol use could be linked to stress from the pandemic and limited access to medical services during that time.
Dr. Brian Lee, a hepatologist at the University of Southern California and one of the study’s authors, explained that addiction can persist even after the stress that triggered it has subsided. He noted that while past events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina saw a return to normal drinking patterns after the initial surge, the pandemic has had a lasting impact. This long-term shift is troubling, particularly as alcohol addiction can take time to manifest in physical health issues.
The findings were drawn from the National Health Interview Survey conducted in 2022, which surveyed nearly 27,000 U.S. adults about their drinking habits. The data revealed that 69.3% of Americans reported consuming alcohol in the past year, an increase from 66.34% in 2018. Additionally, the rate of heavy drinking climbed to nearly 6.3% in 2022, up from 5.1% in 2018. Heavy drinking was defined as consuming a significant number of drinks in a day or week, with specific thresholds for men and women.
The study also highlighted a gender difference in drinking patterns, with women showing higher rates of heavy drinking than men, a shift from previous years. Dr. Divya Ayyala-Somayajula, another co-author of the study, pointed out that women may have faced particular challenges during the pandemic, such as increased caregiving responsibilities and limited childcare, which could have led to alcohol being used as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, and depression. The lack of accessible mental health support further compounded the issue.
While the immediate effects of heavy drinking include liver damage, heart problems, and an increased risk of certain cancers, the most concerning issue is the long-term impact. As Dr. Lee cautioned, alcohol-related diseases often manifest years after the initial use, and the continued rise in alcohol consumption could lead to widespread health problems in the future.
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