Seasonal and Regional Influences on Alcohol Abuse

Even though the opioid epidemic steals the headlines, alcohol abuse is actually the leading cause of preventable death in the US. In fact, over 95,000 people die every year due to alcohol abuse, and over 71% who suffer from substance use disorder struggle with alcohol. The prevalence of alcohol in our society and its glorification as a social drug likely has led to high rates of abuse that show no signs of subsiding. In fact, it has reached even higher levels in light of COVID-19.

Alcohol Abuse Over the Last Few Years

According to the 2019 Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 7% of people over the age of 12 suffered from a substance use disorder out of which alcohol misuse is the most common. Young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 are most likely to deal with alcohol misuse, but surprisingly the number of young adults facing alcohol abuse disorder dropped between the years of 2016 and 2019, although it is still the highest group. Males in particular are more likely to face alcohol misuse. Alcohol misuse is also comorbidity found alongside prescription medication misuse.

COVID-19 and Addiction

COVID-19 increased anxiety and stress for most people across the world in 2020, and the ensuing stress and isolation likely contributed to the rise of alcohol misuse that has been observed since the start of the global pandemic. In a study conducted by Millennium Health, alcohol abuse was revealed to have increased by 4.83% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is logical given that alcohol misuse rates are also recorded to increase following 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina.

A Seasonal Perspective

Seasonal changes in seasonal climates also were found to play a role in the rate of alcohol misuse with alcohol positivity found to be higher during the summer months than the winter months. This may be due to larger advertising rates during the summer and the increased promotion of outdoor events during warmer months.

Alcohol Use by Region

Interestingly, certain regions of the US were more likely to face alcohol misuse than others with New England displaying the highest incidence rate of abuse compared to other areas of the US.

Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace?

Considering the widespread implications of alcohol abuse, employers within DOT-regulated industries must take special steps to ensure that it does not affect their employees. This involves taking proactive steps to prevent alcohol misuse in the workplace and performing mandated drug and/or alcohol testing to identify issues.

If you are an employer of DOT-mandated, safety-sensitive employees and are looking for a service agent to partner with, get in touch with SAP Referral Services today. We can find your employees SAPs in their area quickly.