Study shows alcohol use has increased during the pandemic

TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH - According to the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board (TCMHRB), alcohol consumption has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic
Recent statistics released by Nielsen, report that alcohol sales have increased by 55% (beer sales increased 42%; wine sales increased 66%; spirits sales such as tequila, gin, and pre-mixed cocktails increased 75%).
"The number of people seeking treatment for alcohol use disorders in Trumbull County has increased over the past two years," said Lauren Thorp, director of recovery and youth programs for the TCMHRB.
"Since COVID-19 was first identified in March of this year, we have seen almost a 25 percent increase in persons seeking treatment services who identify alcohol as their primary drug of choice," said Gary Seech, regional director of operations at Glenbeigh. "The volume of alcohol consumed has also been much higher. Patients have indicated that social isolation and the media's nominalization of drinking at all times of day and night, as contributing factors to their alcohol use."
According to the study, an estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
The first is tobacco and the second is poor diet and physical inactivity, according to the National Institute on Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism (NIH).
Most significantly, alcohol has proven to be even more deadly than illicit drugs, including opioids. In 2017, there were nearly 70,000 drug overdose deaths, about 2,300 fewer than deaths involving alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"If you find yourself sleeping too much or not enough, drinking alcohol to help you cope or engaging in other destructive behaviors, please contact one of our contract agencies," Thorp said. "Local substance abuse agencies are open and providing services. Please call 211 or visit our website at www.trumbullmhrb.org to get the help you need."