Understanding Problem Drinking During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic not only has taken many lives, but totally disrupted our way of life, causing seemingly never-ending chronic pressures and stress. From fears about contracting the virus, to mourning the loss of COVID19 casualties, to financial crises, homelessness, food insecurity, social isolation and uncertainty of the future, COVID-19 bombards us with a myriad of serious simultaneous concerns.
Living in a chronic state of fear and trauma contributes to a person’s vulnerability not only to anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but also to substance use abuse/ relapse. Not surprisingly, binge drinking rates reach a dangerous record high.
Recent surveys show that throughout the pandemic, more than two thirds of Americans admit that their drinking has spiked dramatically. Another third of Americans report binge drinking heavily, consuming seven alcoholic beverages in a single setting. Research concludes that the stress of the pandemic, coupled with feeling isolated and bored alone at home, have contributed to binge drinking. Sadly, many who drank casually pre-pandemic, have found themselves caught up in a daily pattern of binge drinking.
WHEN DRINKING BECOMES A PROBLEM
Among the general public, there are many misconceptions about what constitutes a drinking problem. Many mistakenly believe, for example, that if they drink beer rather than liquor, their drinking is not serious. Or similarly, some assume they don’t have a drinking problem as long as they show up for work and maintain employment. Others may falsely reassure themselves that they don’t have a drinking problem because they can sometimes stop drinking completely.
The reality, however, is that whether someone drinks beer, wine, liquor, or other spirits, drinking too much alcohol of any kind constitutes a problem. Many binge drinkers are gainfully employed and may also abstain from drinking from time-to-time. However, when they do consume alcohol, they often find themselves drinking more than intended. Some have a genetic predisposition in which they immediately crave more alcohol after a single drink. For others, what started as a reasonable, ritual nightcap, could develop into a habit of nightly binge drinking.
SYMPTOMS OF HAVING A DRINKING PROBLEM AKA AN ALCOHOL USE DISORDER
In addition to drinking too much alcohol, health professionals also focus on the effects of a person’s alcohol use. Displaying two or more of the following symptoms indicates a likelihood of having an alcohol use disorder (NIAAA, 2021). In the past year, have you:
+ Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended?
+ More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
+ Spent a lot of time drinking, or being sick from drinking or getting over its aftereffects? + Wanted a drink so badly you couldn’t think of anything else? + Found that drinking—or being sick from drinking—often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems? + Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
+ Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
+ More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or engaging in unsafe sexual behavior)?
+ Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had an alcohol-related memory blackout?
+ Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
+ Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, dysphoria (feeling uneasy or unhappy), malaise (general sense of being unwell), feeling low, or a seizure? Or sensed things that were not there?
DRINKING CAUSES CANCER
Even moderate drinking, two or fewer drinks a day, accounted for an estimated 1 in 7, or 103,000 cases, of alcohol-related cancers, according to new studies. Public health agencies are advising federal regulators to add warning labels on alcoholic beverages as “causing cancer.” Similar to warning labels on cigarettes, medical experts increasingly recognize that there is a strong, direct connection between alcohol abuse and cancer, including liver, esophageal and breast cancer.
NEED HELP WITH BINGE DRINKING?
If you or someone in your family needs help with binge drinking or relapse, call the BAC Member Assistance Program toll-free at 1-833-MAP-TALK to speak privately to one of MAP’s licensed mental health and substance abuse professionals. MAP can help you explore a variety of treatment options, including teletherapy. MAP is free of charge to union members and their families, and all calls are kept strictly confidential.