Rising substance abuse during COVID shows the need for better mental health policy

Confinement to homes, social distancing from others, and the interruption of “normal” life during the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed the lives of many, sometimes leading to the growth or exacerbation of alcoholic or substance dependencies. According to a study in the science journal Addictive Behaviors, “[alcohol or recreational drug] consumption has increased substantially in the U.S. and Canada,” correlating with “anxiety or distress about COVID-19.” The study found that this anxiety or distress came from a multitude of factors, including socioeconomic impacts, xenophobic worries, traumatic stress, and worries about contracting the disease.

Is the increase in alcohol and substance use solely due to COVID-19? No. Other factors, including lockdowns and alcohol/drug availability, can play a major factor.

And yet, the culmination of mental health stress, COVID-19 anxiety, and social isolation has definitely created a perfect storm. Overdoses on substance abuse have dramatically risen, an 18% increase nationwide compared to the same months in 2019 according to ODMAP (American Psychological Association). In a study done within a Northeast Ohio university, results indicated “that higher psychological distress was associated with higher alcohol consumption,” which all increased after the campus announced its closing due to COVID-19. The increased strain on mental health has led to a rising dependency on alcohol and substance use as a means to alleviate hardships during the pandemic. 

Being alone, confined to Zoom meetings and teleworking, and healthcare uncertainty have all challenged our ability to thrive in isolation and with anxiety. Describing exactly how the pandemic has influenced our mental health can all be pinpointed to one word: exhausting. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a survey of adults across the U.S. in June 2020 showed that “31% of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety of depression, 26% reported stress-related symptoms, and 11% reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past 30 days”.

How can society address these issues of mental health as a result of a public health crisis? For starters, receiving the “Make sure to go on walks and exercise!” and “Try reading a book instead of just TV!” advice can make one feel as though they are defeated, that one made certain choices that may have developed into dependencies on alcohol or drug abuse.

In reality, the issues lie largely in the societal neglect of mental health and community unawareness of how to address such issues. The lack of mental health/psychiatry support before the pandemic was neither widespread nor accessible, as sessions can cost anywhere from $65-$250 per hour. Financial status bars many underprivileged communities from accessible mental healthcare in addition to issues associated with low income (lack of career opportunities, food deserts, etc). Even those with financial capabilities have been socially inhibited from therapy appointments due to ongoing stigma, although due to the widespread increase in mental health issues, the stigma is slowly transforming.

With the increase of telemedicine and mental health awareness, there is still little focus towards building sustainable mental health services that could support more public health emergencies like COVID-19. This lack of support also includes policy infrastructure that supports those suffering economically and financially during public health crises. The intersection of nationwide healthcare and policy with personal stress and coping mechanisms is highly significant.

Our dependency on alcohol or substance use as a way to cope is part of a myriad of consequences resulting from COVID-19’s exposure of our public health instability. A shift towards better infrastructure that supports each individual to flourish in their mental health is essential; for a society that emphasizes personal success and stigmatizes alcohol/substance abuse without providing real, larger solutions, there is a need for a change in the approach of mental health. 

— Jenny Kim