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Every Week Lockdown Continues People Binge Drink More - Forbes

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BM.GE
07.12.20 16:15
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A new study published today found that the longer adults spend at home in lockdown the more they binge drink, Forbes reports.

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse surveyed almost 2,000 people in the U.S., found that a third of respondents reported bing drinking during the pandemic and binge drinkers alcohol intake was more than double that of people who did not drink excessively.

The study found that during the pandemic, binge drinkers on average drank four drinks per occasion, compared to two drinks among non-binge drinkers.

The researchers also noted that heavy alcohol consumption among binge drinkers – men who have five or more drinks in two hours or women who have four or more – went up by 19% each week of lockdown.

"Increased time spent at home is a life stressor that impacts drinking and the Covid-19 pandemic may have exacerbated this stress," said Sitara Weerakoon, study author and PhD candidate from the University of Texas, in a statement.

RAND sociologist Michael Pollard explained in an interview with ABC News that it’s also a coping mechanism.

“People's depression increases, anxiety increases, [and] alcohol use is often a way to cope with these feelings. But depression and anxiety are also the outcome of drinking; it's this feedback loop where it just exacerbates the problem that it's trying to address," he said.

And while there are some limitations to this latest study, like how most of the participants were white, high-earners, previous research has shown similar trends.

For example, a survey done in the U.K. found one in five people were drinking more during lockdown and 15% said they were drinking more per session.

Another study, also from the U.K., found that the number of people drinking more than six drinks in a single sitting at least once a week went from 10.8% in 2017-19 to 16.2% during lockdown – with a rise in all age groups except from those below 25.

And while the U.K. might be notorious for binge drinking, other countries, including the U.S. are seeing similar patterns of alcohol consumption.

A study conducted in September this year found that drinking went up 14% during lockdown in comparison to 2019 and heavy drinking, especially in women, almost doubled.

The study authors are now calling for new intervention and prevention strategies for people in isolation at risk of hazardous drinking. Otherwise, they say there could be long-lasting health consequences. Further, for those who are in recovery or already struggling with alcohol dependency, this could also potentially be a triggering time.

"Additional research is (also) needed to develop best treatment for people with substance use disorders who may be more susceptible to adverse health outcomes," said Weerakoon.