The problems of addiction and substance abuse never go away. The pandemic years made them measurably worse, and the data shows why.
The problems of addiction and substance abuse never go away. When you throw in all of the changes people faced during forced changes to their daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is no surprise that there appears to be an increase in substance abuse-related deaths the last few years.
Full and partial lockdowns, restrictions on outside recreation, restaurants and clubs, full work-from-home policies, reduced workforces and loss of jobs, and restricted travel all really do the same thing. These measures forced people into their homes and forced them to "find things to do." This, combined with the other outside stresses of the pandemic, have made large number of people find things to do including increased use of drugs and alcohol.
A recent detailed study and paper by Jeremy Greenwood, Nezih Guner and Karen Kopecky showed quite a bit of interesting substance abuse-related death data. The study was actually focused on Substance Abuse During the Pandemic: Implications For Labor Force Participation but compiled a large amount of data on deaths as part of its background on causes of reduced prime-age workforce participation.
Here's the death data. Quantitative data shows that psychostimulant-related and narcotic-related deaths are on a sharp upward trend, with alcohol-related deaths on a slight bump up. We think part of the reason for the lower bump in alcohol-related deaths is due to people staying in and staying home: other studies show that alcohol-related offenses like DUI's and alcohol-related traffic fatalities during the lockdown period are obviously lower than "normal."
Besides the numbers data on increased deaths, there are other useful points and conclusions that can be pulled from the study. These are great qualitative points that back up what just feels kind of obvious when you think about the lockdowns and the pandemic.
The last point in that list deserves the most attention. Habits formed during the pandemic did not simply dissolve when life reopened. For many households, the drinking that started as a lockdown coping mechanism, or the drug use that filled empty months, hardened into dependence. If someone in your family never quite came back from those years, you are not imagining it, and you are far from alone.
The encouraging truth is that substance use disorders respond to treatment, and families do not have to wait for a catastrophe to act. A professionally led intervention gives your family structure, a unified voice, and a concrete treatment plan. Learn more about alcohol interventions, drug addiction interventions, and our full range of professional intervention services. When you are ready to talk, contact us at (850) 563-9776. If you or a loved one is in emotional crisis, call or text 988.
The study points to increased anxiety, isolation, and joblessness, plus cheaper at-home drinking and more unstructured time, all of which lowered the effective cost of substance abuse.
The study's authors expected it would not: once started, drug and alcohol abuse is difficult to stop for many people, so rates were not expected to drop off as the pandemic ended.
Look for continued heavy use despite consequences, hiding or minimizing use, and failed attempts to cut back. An interventionist can help you assess the situation: call (850) 563-9776.
One confidential conversation with a professional interventionist. No pressure, no obligation. We'll help you find the right next step for your family.
