COVID-19 spurs alcohol decrease in patients with depression or anxiety

A study published in the 'Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs' by Derek D Satre and team found surprising trends among adults with unhealthy alcohol use before the pandemic. Using Kaiser Permanente Northern California's electronic health records, they studied changes in alcohol use among a group with prior unhealthy drinking habits, compared those with and without depression or anxiety diagnoses, and explored any link between mental health treatment and these changes. The outcomes measured were the average changes in the number of heavy drinking days over the previous three months, drinks per week, drinks per day, and drinking days per week.

The study included over 62,000 adults with the habit of unhealthy use of alcohol, of whom nearly 20% had depression or anxiety. During the pandemic, alcohol consumption decreased considerably across all measures on average, with individuals experiencing depression or anxiety showing larger reductions in drinks per week and drinking days per week. Despite mental health treatment, there were no significant differences in drinking behaviour changes observed among those with these conditions. These findings highlight complex interactions between mental health and alcohol use during times of stress.