September 29, 2020

Changes in Adult Alcohol Use and Consequences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Mental Health and Personal Impact

Keywords (Tags): mental health personal impact

• The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in alcohol consumption among US adults. Survey data from the RAND Corporation American Life Panel show that on average, 3 out of 4 adults consumed alcohol 1 additional day per month in 2020 than they did in 2019. For women, there was also a 41% increase from baseline in days of heavy drinking, equating to an increase of 1 day for 1 in 5 women. There was also an average increase in the Short Inventory of Problems scale for women, which indicates increased alcohol-related problems independent of consumption level for nearly 1 in 10 women.

Pollard et al. (Sept 29, 2020). Changes in Adult Alcohol Use and Consequences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22942