Women aged 40-64 Experienced Significant Increases in Alcohol Related Complications During Pandemic

[Image: Angela Mascenik, wine tasting in Napa, 2008]

The first bits of data around drinking in the pandemic have been published.

High-Acuity Alcohol-Related Complications During the COVID-19 Pandemic published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) is a study that examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol-related complications, particularly among women. Here's a summary of the key findings:

1. Increase in Alcohol Consumption: The study found that there was a significant increase in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many individuals turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, and isolation (most notably with women ages 40-64).

2. Rise in Alcohol-Related Complications: As a result of increased alcohol consumption, there was a corresponding rise in alcohol-related complications, including acute intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, and alcohol-related accidents or injuries.

3. Disproportionate Impact on Women: The study highlighted that women, in particular, were disproportionately affected by alcohol-related complications during the pandemic. This may be attributed to various factors, including increased caregiving responsibilities, economic stressors, and mental health challenges.

4. Healthcare Burden: The surge in alcohol-related complications placed a significant burden on healthcare systems, with emergency departments and hospitals facing increased admissions for alcohol-related issues.

5. Importance of Support Services: The study underscored the importance of providing adequate support services and resources to individuals struggling with alcohol misuse, particularly during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to telemedicine, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment programs was highlighted as essential components of a comprehensive response.

The study evaluated a US national, commercially insured population, high-acuity alcohol-related complication episodes surged unexpectedly in 4 out of 18 pandemic months.

>>Notably, women aged 40 to 64 years experienced significant increases of 33.3% to 56.0% in high-acuity complication episodes during 10 of the 18 pandemic months. This surge was notably associated with a substantial and sustained rise in high-acuity alcohol-related liver disease complications.<<

This study highlights the urgency of addressing over-drinking risk factors (stress, doing *all the things,* not having proper mental health support, and more) alcohol consumption patterns (why we over-drink) , and related health effects (breast cancer, heart disease, liver complications, mental health issues and more), with a specific focus on women aged 40 to 64 years<< ie my followers, clients, and readers.

*** This data was only looking at reported cases of women who used their insurance to get medical care related to alcohol! ***

The real truth is that it is likely SIGNIFICANTLY MORE than what is reported. Because, I know we don't want this on our health records, and most of us don't tell our doctor the real truth about our drinking because we don't want to be shamed, judged or have that in our medical record. 

Remember, most women who over-drink to excess (World Health Organization [WHO] now reports that NO AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IS SAFE,) but previously stated that women should not drink more than one serving of alcohol per day, do it UN-NOTICED. 

I just recorded a podcast episode yesterday about what my average client 'looks' like who over-drinks. You wouldn't be able to tell from the outside in most cases. They look good, normal, like they are handling everything fine, even great, they work, they help their families, they have good friendships. 

This is a widespread issue affecting WAY MORE WOMEN than you probably realize.

And more proof, that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

I happen to love women. Women are the magical humans that make the world go around. We need women to be strong and healthy. We don't need them numbed out and stuck and not feeling good. 

The marketing, advertising, culture, and the systems we live in (family, work, social, religious, health) will have us believe that we only have a problem with alcohol if we become non-functional, we lose our jobs, we become isolated from family, we can't hold relationships and we need to drink through the day to function, or we have glaring, obvious health conditions.

But we know, deep down, that over-drinking has serious implications even when it doesn't look like the classic description we have all been told about or even witnessed.

YOU literally only have one life. ONE.

And if you are reading this, you have worked on cutting back, have cut back, or what to cut back on how much you are drinking.

Because you know that over-drinking isn't good for you. 

And if you haven't sought help, I am begging you to do it. Do it to maintain where you are (if you have cut back). Do it if you have been trying to do this on your own for any longer than a year and aren't where you want to be. Do it if you are just starting out on your journey so you can get to where you want to be faster.

I'd love it if you did it with me. I want to be your coach. I want to help you get to the other side of this, because I know intimately how awful feeling stuck around your drinking feels. And I know what it feels like to not have this issue anymore, and it's nothing short of a daily miracle.

I am so so so thankful I learned coping skills and quit drinking before the pandemic began. When I think about what my life would have looked like if I had been over-drinking during the pandemic, it makes me shiver and feel nauseous. It makes me feel ill, really. 

Drinking DOES NOT MAKE A DAMN THING BETTER, NOT ONE BIT. 

And I think you know this. 

So, today, I want you to say YES to your one precious life. Join me in my ridiculously affordable Say YES to Drinking LESS mini coaching program and course next week. Get coaching from me, watch the videos, fill out the coaching worksheets. Come see where you are stuck and let's finally start to address this issue.

If you have already signed up for Say YES, get ready! Go watch your videos in your portal, print off your worksheets and get ready to get coaching or witness some amazing coaching that you can apply to your own situation. 

And remember in my programs, YOU GET TO DECIDE, what relationship you want to have with alcohol. I do not make you quit, take long breaks or tell you exactly what to do, you get to make decisions around it (with my help and guidance) and then you evaluate those decisions and continue on the path to reach your goals. YOU KNOW what is best for you and I help you learn that.

I believe in you and I won't stop fighting for you.

Other ways to work with me:

1) Sign up for high touch support and an in-person retreat. I  have ONE private room and a shared room for the Seattle Retreat and 5 spots left for Cancun. Check it out HERE, and put your deposit down now.

2)  ONE TO ONE, private coaching with me, for 3 months, high touch, highest accountability.
APPLICATION only, apply here.

3)  Hand picked stop over-drinking support kit, with items that I personally use to help me stay alcohol free! CHECK IT OUT here. (shipping on demand) ONLY 3 BOXES LEFT!

4) ALIVE AF! my stop over-drinking membership is now closed, but you can get on the waitlist HERE.

Angela Mascenik
angelamascenik.com
Host/creator Stop Over-drinking and Start Living podcast
Alive AF!
Sober Retreats and Coaching