THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has had numerous societal consequences beyond the illness and increased mortality associated with the virus itself. Perhaps not surprising, one of these impacts was a significant increase in alcohol consumption in an effort to cope with the anxiety and stress or simply to relieve the boredom. (Who can forget “Wine with DeWine” during those daily COVID-19 updates?) As a result, many people who were only occasional drinkers became daily drinkers, many moderate drinkers advanced to heavier drinking, and so forth.
While turning to alcohol in such a stressful and tedious time may be understandable, it can also put people at greater risk of developing a wide range of long-term health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these problems could include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems, several forms of cancer, weakening of the immune system, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and many others.
From the standpoint of liver health alone, consider that, based on research conducted by investigators at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and published in Hepatology, it’s estimated that a one-year increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic will result in 8,000 additional deaths from alcohol-related liver disease, 18,700 cases of liver failure, and 1,000 cases of liver cancer by the year 2040.
How much is too much when it comes to drinking alcohol? The CDC defines heavy drinking as consuming eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men. Binge drinking, which is the most common form of excessive alcohol consumption, is defined as drinking four or more drinks in a single session for women or five or more drinks in a single session for men.
If there was an uptick in your alcohol intake during COVID, now may be a good time to evaluate whether you might need to moderate your consumption in order to minimize your health risks. Moderate drinking, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, is defined as one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men. Of course, abstaining from alcohol consumption is the healthiest choice of all, and the Guidelines emphasize that people should absolutely avoid drinking if they are under the legal drinking age (21), pregnant or might be pregnant, have certain medical conditions or take certain medications that can interact with alcohol, or are recovering from an alcohol use disorder.
If your increase in alcohol consumption during the pandemic was more than a small uptick and you’re now concerned that you may have developed a dependency, here are 10 warning signs of alcoholism you should watch for (source: TheRecoveryVillage.com):
1. Drinking alone and in secrecy
2. Losing interest in other activities you once found enjoyable
3. Experiencing alcohol cravings
4. Making drinking a priority over responsibilities
5. Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms
6. Experiencing extreme mood swings and irritability
7. Having feelings of guilt associated with drinking
8. Having a drink first thing in the morning
9. Continuing to drink despite health, financial, and family problems
10. Being unable to stop or control the amount of alcohol consumed.
If you observe one or more of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, don’t hesitate to get help—don’t think “I don’t fit the profile of an alcoholic” or that alcohol addiction only happens to other people. A frank discussion with your healthcare provider about your drinking habits and concerns is a great place to start. You can also access information and services by calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or by texting 435748 (HELP4U).
