- Women are at higher risk than men, it has been observed that women are drinking more to close the gap with men, but are react physically stronger to a smaller quantity of alcohol
- People with kids are more likely to drink more, probably because the added stresses of kids increases distress

Columbia University

- Description of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
- Higher risk groups for increased alcohol consumption
- Reports/Concerns of Elevated Alcohol Drinking During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Risks of increased alcohol use
- Suggestions to counteract substance use issues

Alcohol Substance Use Issues Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rodriguez, L. M., Litt, D. M., & Stewart, S. H. (2020). Drinking to cope with the pandemic: The unique associations of COVID-19-related perceived threat and psychological distress to drinking behaviors in American men and women. Addictive behaviors, 106532.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7320671/

Drinking to cope with the pandemic: The unique associations of COVID-19 related perceived threat and psychological distress to drinking behaviors in American men and women

There have been several publications that have reported/warned of elevated alcohol drinking as a result of social isolation/generalized stress during the COVID-19 lockdown period(s). This node is intended to collect significant reports in this area.
- Survey Analysis: Alcohol Drinking Among the General German Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown
- Survey Analysis: Alcohol Drinking Among Quarantined Physicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic 
- Survey analysis: Drinking to cope with the pandemic: The unique associations of COVID-19 related perceived threat and psychological distress to drinking behaviors in American men and women
- Review/Report: Concerns of the Effects of Isolation on Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) and Alcohol-Associated Liver Diseases (ALDs)

Reports/Concerns of Elevated Alcohol Drinking During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by repeating cycling through preoccupation/anticipation, binge/intoxication, and withdrawal/negative affect stages (Ref. #1). AUD is considered by the DSM-5 to be a spectrum-like disorder that ranges in severity from mild, moderate, to severe. In contrast to the previous iteration of the DSM (the DSM-IV), no distinction is made between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence (Ref. #2). With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is concern that abstinent individuals will relapse back into the AUD cycle due to the stress caused by the pandemic itself and the social isolation that ensued as a result of lockdown periods.

Description of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Higher risk groups for elevated alcohol consumption in response to increased to psychological distress

- Alcohol poisoning
- Blackouts
- Developing of a drinking disorder (alcoholism)

Risks of increased alcohol use in response to increased psychological distress

- Monitor drinking quantity for women
- Monitor drinking and heavy/drinking for all those psychologically impacted by the pandemic and its restrictions

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