Re: COVID-19 Drove Up Drinking, and Liberals Are Dying Faster as a Result

In article <[email protected]>
<[email protected]> wrote:

As COVID-19 continues to ravage our communities, researchers 
like myself are focused on evaluating how the pandemic has 
affected the mental and physical health of Americans—and 
determining the best path forward for our collective well-being.

Sadly, the more than 1 million American deaths directly caused 
by this deadly virus doesn't tell the whole story. New research 
I conducted along with my colleagues at University of North 
Carolina's School of Medicine paints a grim picture of rising 
alcohol-associated liver disease, known as ALD. It's a disorder 
that steadily increased over the past two decades, but which 
dangerously accelerated once the pandemic hit in early 2020.

COVID-19 fueled the perfect storm of increased stress, social 
isolation, disruptions to work and school, and increased 
unemployment and financial insecurity. This dynamic led to 
higher alcohol consumption among Americans, and an increased 
risk of ALD. A recent national survey of U.S. adults and their 
alcohol consumption found that excessive drinking—defined as 
more than four drinks per day or 14 per week for men and three 
drinks per day or seven per week for women—increased by a 
startling 21 percent in the country after the start of the 
pandemic.

Another study found that in the seven weeks between March 1 and 
April 18, 2020, alcohol sales skyrocketed. In March alone, in-
store alcohol sales increased by 54 percent and alcohol sales 
online increased by 262 percent, compared to sales during the 
same weeks in 2019.

Chronic and heavy consumption of alcohol induces liver injury 
that, over time, can progress to irreversible damage and the 
need for a liver transplant. ALD is currently the leading cause 
of liver-related deaths in the U.S. In short, Americans are 
drinking more than ever, and it's killing them faster. To stem 
this tide of alcohol use disorder, and ultimately, ALD 
mortality, there are number of proven approaches that can and 
should be taken.

First, improved screening for high-risk alcohol consumption and 
alcohol use disorder is critical. Without this, patients may be 
diagnosed with alcohol use disorder or ALD at much later stages, 
when liver injury may no longer be reversible. Unfortunately, 
primary care screening can be inconsistent—and drops off 
considerably among uninsured and marginalized communities. The 
U.S. needs to increase access to primary health care services 
where validated screening for unhealthy alcohol consumption can 
be performed, particularly in underserved communities.

Secondly, screening for alcohol use disorder and ALD must be 
followed by evidenced-based medical and psychosocial treatment. 
What does this mean? Treatment with an addiction provider who 
can prescribe medication and substance use disorder counseling 
with a licensed therapist. Finding and accessing this type of 
care, however, can be extremely challenging due to the national 
shortage of addiction providers. The growth of telemedicine in 
recent years has created a groundswell of support for 
telemedicine expansion, which is a valuable option for those 
without reliable access to health care in their local community. 
However, we also must layer this with telephone appointments and 
convenient telemedicine access points at places like local 
pharmacies or health departments for those without reliable 
internet access.

Finally, our most valuable tool in curtailing ALD is prevention. 
As a progressive disease, its risk increases with time and the 
frequency in which individuals consume large amounts of alcohol. 
Prevention can take many forms. This includes bolstering 
community engagement and organizations to address the social 
isolation, trauma, financial insecurity, and chronic stress that 
often contribute to alcohol use disorder, as well as educational 
campaigns to improve awareness.

COVID-19 upended many of the support mechanisms for those 
struggling with alcohol use disorder. As a result, now is the 
time to resume and expand vital support systems such as 
Alcoholics Anonymous and other residential treatment options. We 
must stand up national and local education campaigns focused on 
teaching about safe alcohol consumption. This includes outlining 
what are proper alcohol serving sizes, which are often far less 
than most people realize.

We can also learn from other national health threats, such as 
the opioid crisis, to inform our response. Early intervention is 
the key: We must reduce national alcohol consumption, improve 
screening for disorders, and optimize timely treatment. This 
uptick in ALD mortality will only increase without swift action.

I hope my fellow physicians, mental health experts, and key 
decision makers will join me in this effort. American lives 
depend on it.

Sasha Deutsch-Link, MD, is a fellow in the division of 
gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of North 
Carolina's School of Medicine. She is the lead author of the 
study "Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Mortality Increased From 
2017 to 2020 and Accelerated During the COVID-19 Pandemic."

https://www.newsweek.com/covid-19-drove-drinking-americans-are-
dying-faster-result-opinion-1728519