Alcohol, weed, drugs and your health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Chicago TribuneDec 17, 2020
This has been quite a year, and it’s not surprising that people have found themselves drinking alcohol and using cannabis or drugs to cope with all that 2020 has thrown our way. And now, the holidays have arrived -- traditionally a time for some to overindulge.
Throughout the year, we’ve written stories about why people are turning to alcohol, weed and drugs during the pandemic, and offered resources to those who are in over their heads. If you’re considering cutting back in the new year, here are some things to think about and some places to look for help.
People are drinking more during COVID-19: ‘We’re all going through a traumatic event’
Dr.
Poll breaks down why people are turning to weed during the pandemic
A report says that as the pandemic evolves, a large percentage of users have been seeking therapeutic relief from cannabis. Rising levels of anxiety and sleep issues have resulted in an uptick in cannabis use as well as a stable rise in the use of cannabis delivery services.
Drug and alcohol use has spiked, prompting Chicago’s recovery community to find new ways to reach out
The pandemic has proved to be a difficult time for people with an addiction. With persisting unemployment rates and surging reports of anxiety and depression nationwide, alcohol consumption and opioid use have skyrocketed among users who have found themselves stuck inside day after day. Over the past few months, recovery groups and treatment centers throughout the
Addiction to opioids and tobacco increases risk for COVID-19, study finds
People with substance use disorder -- especially involving opioids or tobacco -- are at a significantly higher risk for contracting COVID-19. What’s more, they also are more likely to develop a serious case of the virus and die, according to a study funded by the
Deadliest year for fatal opioid overdoses in
Is your pandemic drinking out of control? Here’s what to do about it.
In the context of a quarantine, indulging in alcohol is an understandable human compulsion, said Dr.
“Human nature is where we see certain triggers increase addiction or other behaviors,” he said. “The current environment just creates an opportunity for us to resort to that (behavior) and become victims.”
Although people with a personal or family history of substance abuse are always at greater risk, Alam said that people need to be vigilant about their habits in the current social climate.
Can having a drink with dinner turn into problem drinking?
Is it possible to become an alcoholic just by having one or two drinks nightly, like wine with dinner? The
‘Moderate’ drinking guidelines are too loose, study says
A sweeping international study of alcohol consumption has found no overall health benefits from moderate drinking. The threshold for low-risk drinking, the researchers found, is about seven beers a week for men and women alike.
The ‘sober curious’ movement takes off in
A growing group of “sober curious” Americans, many of them women influenced by health and wellness concerns, are experimenting with alcohol-free living. The sober curious often cut out alcohol entirely or drastically reduce consumption, but in contrast to those who enroll in traditional 12-step programs such as
Prescribed opioids but want to try medical marijuana instead? An
The
Signed into law in
What a month of ditching alcohol taught me
Here’s what a monthlong challenge to give up alcohol taught one millennial woman whose life revolved around going to shows where booze typically flows until closing.
I quit drinking a year ago. Here’s what happened.
After some unsuccessful attempts to stop drinking, one woman went a whole year. Although she misses the instant relaxation that comes when alcohol hits the bloodstream, she doesn’t long for what came afterward. Here’s her story.
Getting treatment for problem drinking -- without giving up alcohol
Harm reduction or controlled drinking, in which problem drinkers reduce their alcohol intake but don’t necessarily embrace abstinence, remains rare and controversial. But a growing body of research indicates that harm reduction works.
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