Did you know there was a sharp rise in alcohol-related deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic? Given the pressures of the quarantines and resulting anxiety, any such increase is a real possibility. However, according to researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the increase in alcohol-related deaths is historic.

In the previous two decades before the pandemic, the national death certificate database shows a consistent increase in alcohol-related deaths. However, with an annual increase of around 2.2%, the issue does not seem to be that extreme. From 2019 to 2020, there is a sea change in these statistics. During the first year of the pandemic, according to the study published in JAMA, alcohol-related deaths jumped a massive 25.5%.

A Massive Jump in Alcohol-Related Deaths

Moreover, the massive jump in alcohol-related deaths in the United States is not a small number from any perspective. Indeed, these 25.5% results in a total of 99,107 deaths. The increases include the following numbers:

1. 4% (from 24,110 to 29,509) rise in alcohol-associated liver disease deaths
2. 8% (from 8,503 to 11,969) rise in deaths involving a combination of alcohol and opioids
3. 2% (from 6,302 to 10,032) rise in deaths involving alcohol and synthetic opioids like fentanyl

Given the national opioid epidemic, the connection to opioid abuse is not surprising. Indeed, fentanyl in specific and synthetic opioids remains a driving force.

Alcohol-Related Deaths and Alcohol Use Disorder

As a provider of SUD treatment services, Tarzana Treatment Centers is here to help people find treatment for alcohol use disorder. Before alcohol misuse spirals out of control, professional support often helps to prevent alcohol-related deaths. Without question, it is better to assess the problem of drinking to excess before it becomes a long-term health hazard.

Overall, the reasons for the sharp rise in alcohol-related deaths are not entirely known. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, other statistics show that alcohol sales nationwide increased by 2.9%. Although this number seems small, it is the most significant annual increase in over 50 years. From the research, stress, anxiety, and a previous history of alcohol abuse are contributing factors.

Adverse Health Outcomes and Alcohol-Related Deaths

Finally, adverse health outcomes go side by side with this sharp increase. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports a 14% increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2020. Such an increase comes after years of reductions in these numbers.

Moreover, during the same period, a sharp rise in alcohol-related emergency room visits, a greater demand for transplants for alcohol-associated liver disease, and many more cases of alcohol poisoning due to acute consumption. If you or a loved one needs help with an increase in alcohol consumption, please contact us today. At TTC, we are here to help you recover.