Rosecrance expert points to dangers of unhealthy coping skills when faced with challenges such as extreme stress, isolation, grief

A study released on the eve of Alcohol Awareness Month shed more light on the impact of alcohol use during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported a 25 percent spike in alcohol-related deaths from 2019 to 2020. This was an eleven-fold increase on the typical increase in deaths over the past two decades. Researchers also noted that alcohol sales rose 3 percent for the year, making it the largest jump in 50 years.

At Rosecrance, alcohol use was the most-common behavioral health disorder treated in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, accounting for one-fifth of all diagnoses.

“We’re seeing the sad results of a pandemic that impacted all of our lives,” said Rosecrance Regional President Carlene Cardosi. “When people have difficulty handling stress, isolation, and grief, they often turn to unhealthy coping skills. Unfortunately, one glass of wine can quickly turn into one too many, and that can have devastating effects on people’s lives.”

JAMA’s latest data followed a trend over the past two years that showed increased alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, at various points of the pandemic’s first year. In addition, stress, anxiety, and symptoms of other mental health disorders quickly rose in early 2020 and have remained elevated, even as communities move past the pandemic.

Rosecrance championed hope for thousands of individuals during the pandemic and continues to provide lasting recovery through a robust continuum of evidence-based treatment and prevention programs.