Alcohol Abuse in Quarantine
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on many people around the world. It has slowly but surely caused more people to develop an alcohol abuse problem and there are many factors that have contributed to this nationwide issue.
Using Alcohol to Cope
The global health crisis coupled with lockdown orders across the world has given reason for people to start drinking as a coping mechanism. More people are drinking at home by themselves as a way to cope with negative emotions, and the buildup of stress can remove reasonable limitations on how much people are accustomed to drinking.
Isolation and stress are the main factors that are driving people to binge on alcohol, but the inaccessibility of counseling and program meetings to overcome alcohol abuse has also made it difficult for people to recover from their problems even if they are fully aware of them. On average, there was a 14% increase in alcohol consumption overall.
Researchers also found that women were far more likely to develop an alcohol abuse problem during the Covid-19 lockdowns. There was a staggering 41% increase in heavy drinking among women with at least 1 in every 5 women surveyed admitting that they heavily consumed alcohol at least 1 additional day per month compared to before.
Increased Accessibility of Alcohol
Despite the inaccessibility of counseling and programs to help deal with alcohol abuse, most U.S. states deemed liquor stores and other beverage outlets as essential businesses. This meant they were able to remain open during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, prompting many people to purchase alcohol as a means of coping with their negative emotions.
In addition, more and more stores began to offer delivery services for customers that were concerned about stepping outdoors. This made it very convenient for people to simply place a large order of alcohol and have it delivered straight to their door. This caused many people to buy more alcohol than they were accustomed to and it meant easy access for people who were already facing an alcohol abuse problem.
Is Recovery Still Possible?
Despite all of the roadblocks that are making it difficult for people to recover from alcohol abuse, recovery is still possible.
As the country begins to open up again, more and more people are now attending 12-step program meetings and attending counseling to help with their alcohol abuse. Rehab centers, such as Peaks Recovery Centers, are also open for patients that are looking for alcohol detox services.
With trained medical staff, psychiatrists, and around-the-clock nursing, recovering from an alcohol abuse problem is once again possible. So whether you have developed an alcohol abuse problem during quarantine or have had your recovery process hindered due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we invite you to contact Peaks Recovery Centers today to seek treatment and take the first step towards long-term recovery.