The COVID-19 pandemic really ramped up stress-related drinking and led to more alcohol-related deaths, and recent research indicates that even as life has returned to some sense of normalcy, people haven’t stopped drinking.
A study published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that the rise in alcohol consumption from 2018 to 2020 continued into 2022.
This research looked at data from adults aged 18 and older who took part in the National Health Interview Survey between 2018 and 2022.
The survey was designed to be representative of the entire U.S. population, gathering responses from over 20,000 people each year using complex sampling methods.
The researchers pointed out that one reason for this ongoing increase could be that people have become accustomed to drinking more due to pandemic-related stress and challenges in accessing medical services.
No matter the reason, these findings underscore a serious public health concern since alcohol is a major contributor to illness and mortality in the U.S. Dr. Divya Ayyala from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital mentioned during a CBS News interview that they’re seeing more patients with health issues tied to alcohol, like severe liver disease.
She explained that initially, increased drinking was largely due to social isolation, disruptions in daily life, and limited access to healthcare during such a stressful period.
However, what’s concerning is that these patterns are sticking around—suggesting folks might not know where or how to seek help or may not even realize they need it at all.