From face masks, to quarantining, to running out of hand sanitizer and soaps, COVID-19 has provided us with plenty of stressors; all of these stressors are even more heightened for those struggling with an addiction to alcohol. For people with alcoholism, the social isolation and other side effects that come along with lockdowns impacts their disease in the worst possible way.
A recent study has shown that individuals who struggle with substance abuse are more likely to indulge in their substance of choice more often, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the position it has put us all in. According to this study, the average individual struggling with drinking is consuming over 19% more in lockdown-type circumstance than they normally do on an average day. This number might not seem drastic to everyone; however, if you think about how much alcohol is involved in binge drinking, an extra 19% is huge. When you start to consider the other physical and mental health issues that these individuals are facing, such as depression, anxiety, or even COVID-19, the risk is even higher.
Not only are individuals already suffering from alcoholism struggling, but the disease is actually spreading behind the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 33% of Americans have reported that they have used binge drinking as a form of coping in one way or another during this global pandemic. Being home and isolated from family, friends, and even general society is causing a stress that Americans are not dealing with in a healthy manner. Alcoholism can begin as a sheer bad habit, but then evolve into a self-destructing storm that is so very difficult to get out of.
This is why it is so important to not only be aware of the patterns you and your loved ones are beginning in quarantine, but to also know how to address issues that are already present. If you or someone you know already struggles with binge-drinking, then COVID-19 has done nothing but exasperate the stress of the issue. Quarantining and isolation may have statistics proving that it promotes physical health; however, it is also back by overwhelming statistics proving that it is detrimental to mental and emotional health. One way that our treatment center has committed to addressing this problem is through our NAD+ Treatment. This is an all-natural way to treat alcoholism by targeting the NAD+ deficiency that many people facing alcoholism have, that they might not even be aware of. This is just one of the ways that we work to promote healthy brain function in order to assist people in getting their lives back on track.
We all know the stress that this year’s shutdowns can bring, and we have all learned to deal with it in different ways. For those battling alcoholism, this year might have been more than they could bear and they could very well be dealing with the stress by feeding their addiction. If you or someone you know needs help with this issue, please contact us and explore your options.
