The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a whole lot of stress for many individuals and modifications to many elements of our each day lives. One factor that has modified dramatically is alcohol consumption.
“Total, there’s been a 14% enhance in alcohol consumption through the pandemic,” mentioned Brian Bartlett. Brian is the supervisor of Programs for Change, a substance abuse restoration program based mostly in western Wisconsin. “And in Minnesota, there’s been a 25% enhance in whole alcohol gross sales for the reason that pandemic started.”
An additional alcoholic drink right here and there isn’t essentially an indication of a ingesting drawback. But it surely’s essential to grasp your relationship with alcohol, and to know the way to change it in order for you or have to. This was the principle focus of our dialog with Brian on the For Well being’s Sake podcast. We lined:
- Pandemic ingesting and tendencies in the usage of different substances like hashish and opioids
- inform if alcohol is negatively affecting your life
- The place to get assist if you happen to’re frightened about your alcohol use
- Suggestions for altering your ingesting habits
Don’t be afraid to ask for assist
“Simply because an individual has issues about alcohol does not imply that they’ve magically change into alcohol dependent or that they should go to therapy or something like that,” Brian identified. “However identical to with some other well being concern, in case you are seeing or experiencing one thing associated to your relationship with alcohol, attain out to a doctor.”
Your main care physician is a good particular person to go to with these sorts of issues. They may give you an expert opinion and recommendation for what you’re experiencing, and refer you to a specialist if wanted.
