High on a pandemic: Drinking, drug use at home climbs
It’s hardly a newsflash: We’ve been drinking and drugging more since the word “virus” became a daily part of life.
Whether that’s because working at home creates opportunity or everybody’s tired of the associated anxieties, is anybody’s guess. Either way, while some cope well enough, a trio of surveys suggest addressing those who haven’t is among the challenges ahead.
In sum, Idaho employees spent an average 108 hours hungover while working from home since March. A nationwide survey by Withdrawal.net (reported by PR Fire) of 3,200 drinking-age employees showed Idaho’s rate was just a hair under the national average of 112 hours.
Another survey of 3,050 adults by AlcoholRehab.com, a provider of alcohol and drug addiction treatment resources, found nearly 1 in 10 Idahoans say 2020’s boredom prompted them to experiment with stronger liquors than before. One in five also said their alcohol tolerance has increased.
It’s not just booze. According to data from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program, the U.S. saw an 18 percent increase in opioid overdoses in March 2020 (as compared to the same month last year), a 29 percent increase in April, and an alarming 42 percent increase in May.
Coping poorly with having more to worry about seems to have paradoxically led to more cause for worry.
The WithDrawal.net survey also found:
· The average American employee is 43 percent less productive this year.
· One in five Americans said they’re more likely to drink more while working from home than if they had to go into the office the next day (and if without any scheduled video meetings — a good suggestion for bosses managing remote workers).
· Over half — 53 percent — admit taking a sick day for a hangover, and 21 percent said they’ve confused hangover symptoms with COVID-19.
Switching to opioids, another survey of 2,940 adults by Rehabs.com found:
· Half of Idaho voters say the opioid crisis is less important following the pandemic, while at the same time usage is up across the country.
· Nearly three out of four Americans admit they don’t know the Republican or Democrat position regarding opioid addiction.
· Seventy percent of respondents believe doctors prescribe opioids too freely. According to a CDC report nearly one in three opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription.
Ironically, despite evidence of a substance abuse epidemic within a pandemic, Americans are less concerned about it overall. Nearly half (45 percent) of voters in The Gem State said that combating the opioid crisis has slipped down their order of priorities.
Yet more than half (52 percent) of American respondents said they know someone affected by addiction. And despite less concerned about addiction this year compared to other issues, one in three voters said they would pay more taxes if it meant better treatment and facilities for opioid drug addicts.
Yoga, anyone?
For more information see Withdrawal.net/realize/pandemically-unproductive, Alcoholrehab.com/guides/booze-vs-boredom, and Rehabs.com/blog/voting-priorities-2020.
Anyone needing help can contact the Alcohol and Drug Helpline 24/7 at (844) 289-0879 or resources@drughelpline.org.
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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.