Deaths from alcohol use surged during COVID-19 pandemic, CDC study shows – Observer-Reporter

Average annual number of alcohol-related deaths

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that there were roughly 488 deaths per day during the COVID-19 pandemic due to excessive alcohol drinking in 2020-21.

The average number of deaths related to excessive alcohol use increased more than 29% from 2016-17 to 2020-21, according to the report, published last week.

During 2016-17, there were 137,927 alcohol-related deaths, but for 2020-21, that number rose to 178,307.

The CDC reported that during the pandemic, drinking levels for both men and women increased substantially.

Excessive alcohol consumption-related deaths went up by 35% among women during those two time periods. In comparison, for men, there was an increase of 27% in deaths over the same time frame.

Excessive drinking is the No. 1 preventable cause of death among adults, due to chronic health issues that often develop with long-term use, like heart and liver disease, various types of cancer, and alcohol use disorder. The CDC said deaths also result from drinking too much at one time, which could lead to alcohol poisoning, motor vehicle accidents, falls, and suicides.

Another study found that people across the country bought more hard alcohol and wine during the early part of the pandemic.

Stress, loneliness, and social isolation, and mental health conditions might also have contributed to the increase in deaths from excessive alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic, the report said.

While alcohol might not be what comes to mind when you think of drugs, it actually is.

With alcohol, its sort of a social or cultural thing where we dont view it as taboo or label it like we do when someone is smoking marijuana or doing heroin or taking pills, said Dr. Gopi Vadlamudi, Medical Director of the CNX Foundation Substance Recovery Unit at Penn Highlands Mon Valley.

Vadlamudi said some people have a genetic predisposition to alcohol use disorder, and that recent studies are showing that alcohol use, even within recommended guidelines, can increase risk of certain cancers and other diseases.

According to the CDC, states can reduce alcohol deaths by limiting when and where people can buy alcohol, and by raising alcohol taxes.

The CDC also recommended mass media campaigns to encourage people to drink less.

We know that theres a lot of evidence about what works to prevent excessive drinking, and to reduce alcohol-related harm. But the strategies that we know work are often underused in the U.S., said study author Marissa Esser, from the CDCs National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention. Making alcohol less accessible and less available by having fewer places that sell it, or spreading out the number of places that are selling alcohol can help to create environments that support peoples choice to drink less.

In Pennsylvania, regulations began loosening in 2016, which allowed for more locations including grocery stores and gas stations to sell beer and wine.

In 2021, 9.4 deaths per 100,000 Pennsylvanians were alcohol-related, nearly double 2009s rate of 4.8.

According to the CDC, more than 18% of Pennsylvanians reported binge drinking (four or more drinks for women or five or more drinks for men at one occasion in the past 30 days) or heavy drinking (eight or more drinks for women or 15 or more for males drinks per week) in 2022.

If your alcohol use puts your health or safety at risk, it is an unhealthy use of alcohol, said Vadlamudi. Binge drinking is another sign of unhealthy use. Generally, if your drinking results in repeated significant problems in your daily life, you may have alcohol use disorder.

Vadlamudi also pointed out that people have their own definition of what a drink is.

So, 5 ounces of wine is one drink, but people fill their glass up and call it one drink, when actually its two, he said.

Reports that certain alcohol, like red wine, has health benefits, appear to be exaggerated, he said.

Badlamudi said help is available for those struggling with drinking.

Penn Highlands Healthcare offers inpatient, intensive outpatient, and substance recovery unit care. The CNX Foundation Substance Recovery Unit at Penn Highlands Mon Valley is a Level 4 inpatient withdrawal and treatment facility serving Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

Help and resources are also available from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which offers a free 24/7 helpline for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

The CDC report also has a section dedicated to resources, and suggestions for how states and communities can help reduce drinking deaths by implementing certain laws and strategies.

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Deaths from alcohol use surged during COVID-19 pandemic, CDC study shows - Observer-Reporter