The pandemic has brought about a lot of dangerous health problems for millions of people. Besides the high number of individuals who have contracted and succumbed to the coronavirus, another health crisis has popped up. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported a rather shocking statistic related to alcoholism. Their study showed an increase in liver disease as high as 50% reported by hospitals since the beginning of the pandemic.
Reasons Why People Rely on Alcohol During the Pandemic
- The daily stress of living in the COVID-19 era
- Social isolation for prolonged periods of time
- Decreased number of in-person support groups
- Dealing with personal health problems or those of loved ones
- Loss of job or decreased income
- Uncertainty of when life will return to normal
The Pandemic Helped Create New Cases of Alcoholism
Many people who previously did not experience an addiction to alcohol might have found their drinking has increased in the past year. What may have started as jokes about enjoying “quarantinis” has turned into an actual reliance on alcohol to deal with life amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For those who are concerned they have a problem, it can be challenging to take steps to seek treatment. The usual choices of in-person therapy or medical appointments and support groups are lower than normal. Lack of in-person treatment options can make it feel too difficult to seek help until society opens up more.
Even Strong Recoveries Can Turn to Relapse
Many people who were already struggling with addiction to alcohol have found it challenging to maintain their sobriety during the pandemic. High-stress situations are well-known triggers to the temptation to go “off the wagon.” The pandemic has created many challenging situations that test a person’s ability to stay in recovery. Experiencing shame that they have relapsed often tempts a person to hide what is occurring from their loved ones.
An alarming rise in the cases of liver disease can partially be attributed to the pandemic. People often drink to relieve stress, causing a reliance on alcohol to develop or for a person in recovery to relapse. The Detox Center of Colorado understands the unique stress the pandemic has caused and can help. We offer a world-class detoxification program that includes planning the next steps in your recovery. Call our beautiful Colorado location today to find out how we can help you stop drinking and deal with life on your terms! (303) 952-5035.
