Drinking alcohol became a deadlier habit as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the U.S., according to a study published this month in the JAMA journal.
Alcohol-related deaths shot up by 25% from 2019 to the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic for a total of 99,017 in 2020, researchers found. While rates were already increasing, the previous average annual change was just 2.2%.
“The rate increase for alcohol-related deaths in 2020 outpaced the increase in all-cause mortality, which was 16.6%,” said the study. U.S. mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics regarding alcohol-related deaths among all individuals 16 years or older in 2019 and 2020 was used to conduct the research.
Rates of alcohol-related death increased for all age groups. Researchers observed the highest increase – close to 40% – in individuals age 35 to 44 years old, followed by individuals age 25 to 34 years old with a 37% spike.
Alcohol-related death rates increased slightly more for women at 27.4% compared to men at 25.1%.
Deaths with an underlying cause of alcohol-associated liver diseases increased by 22.4% to 29,504 and the number of deaths with an underlying cause of alcohol-related mental and behavioral disorders increased by 35% to 15,211.
“Deaths involving alcohol reflect hidden tolls of the pandemic,” said the study authors. “Increased drinking to cope with pandemic-related stressors, shifting alcohol policies, and disrupted treatment access are all possible contributing factors.”
Studies reported increases in drinking to cope with stress, transplants for alcohol-associated liver disease and emergency department visits for alcohol withdrawal in addition to deaths.
Apart from alcohol-related deaths, opioid overdoses also increased during the pandemic by 38% in 2020 and that deaths related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl increased by 55%. Opioid overdose deaths involving alcohol as a contributing cause increased by nearly 41% and synthetic opioid deaths with alcohol listed as a contributing factor increased by more than 59%.
Of course, COVID-19 also contributed to more than 350,000 and became the third most likely cause of death in the U.S. during 2020.
“During 2020, a total of 2,042 death certificates listed alcohol and COVID-19 as causes,” according to the study. “As such, only a small proportion of the increase in alcohol-related deaths involved COVID-19 directly.”
Researchers said it is unclear whether alcohol-related deaths will decline as the pandemic wanes or whether policy changes are needed to help reduce more deaths, though it “warrants consideration.”
Those struggling with addiction can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services helpline at 1-800-662-4357. It is free, confidential and available 24/7, 365 days a year.
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