Alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations spiked during the pandemic. Could policy have made a difference?
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Dr. Peter Butt’s retirement plans as he witnessed a surge in people seeking help for alcohol use. The demand for his inpatient addiction medicine consulting service doubled, highlighting the alarming increase in alcohol-related issues during the pandemic. According to Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, there was a significant rise in people requiring alcohol withdrawal management and other services directly linked to their alcohol consumption.
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed a concerning trend of more alcohol consumption leading to a rise in hospitalizations and deaths. Between April 2020 and December 2022, alcohol-related deaths increased by 18 percent, with hospitalizations up by about eight percent. The highest spikes were observed in the early years of the pandemic, indicating 1,596 more deaths and 7,142 more hospitalizations that may have been prevented without excessive alcohol consumption.
Dr. Yipu Shi, the lead author of the study, emphasized the impact of pandemic-related stressors, health restrictions, and varying access to healthcare on alcohol-related harm. The data showed that younger adults, particularly those aged 25 to 44, were most vulnerable to alcohol-related harms, with excess hospitalizations more pronounced among young women aged 15 to 44. Alcoholic liver disease emerged as the leading cause of both hospitalizations and deaths.
Factors contributing to the increase in alcohol consumption included stress, boredom, worsening mental health, disrupted healthcare services, and easier access to alcohol. While the trend declined by 2022, excess mortality remained slightly higher. The results mirrored findings from other countries, such as the United States and European nations, which reported similar spikes in alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic.
Dr. Tim Naimi, the director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, expressed concern about the long-term effects of increased alcohol consumption, including the potential for higher rates of alcohol-related diseases like liver disease and certain cancers. He criticized policies that deemed alcohol an essential commodity during the pandemic, attributing it to a “self-inflicted wound” that strained the healthcare system.
Adam Sherk, a senior scientist at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, highlighted the need for a balanced approach to alcohol sales during national emergencies to prevent overwhelming healthcare resources. He suggested expanding mental health services as a more effective way to address underlying issues driving excessive alcohol consumption.
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the detrimental effects of increased alcohol consumption on public health. By learning from this experience, policymakers can implement strategies to mitigate the impact of alcohol-related harm during future crises, emphasizing the importance of mental health support and responsible alcohol sales practices.
