“Several studies have now shown that solitary drinking has increased as a result of the pandemic,” possibly due to the closure of bars and social spaces during stay-at-home measures, Creswell said.
“Studies have also shown that the association between drinking alone and alcohol problems is stronger for young women than for younger men.” “This is particularly concerning given that there has recently been an increase in solitary drinking among US female adolescents.”
“The primary reason young people drink alone is to cope with negative emotions, and developing such a relationship with alcohol during an epidemic could lead to increased alcohol use among drinkers, possibly resulting in more alcohol-related There could be problems,” Cresswell said. “And then this can be especially the case with young women.”
17 years study
Criswell and a team from the University of Michigan analyzed data from the Monitoring the Future Study, an ongoing investigation of 4,500 teens who were asked about their drinking habits as high school seniors. Additional data was collected when participants were 22 to 23 years old old And then when he was 35.
When compared with people who drank only socially, the study found that drinking alone as a high school senior increased the risk of alcohol use disorder by 35% by age 35. Alcohol use disorder, also known as alcoholism, is defined as the inability to stop. Drinking alcohol even if it causes physical or emotional harm to the drinker or other people.
Creswell said the link was particularly strong for teenage girls.
“Signs of alcohol use disorder at age 35 were 86% more likely for teen women (high school seniors) who drink alone. In contrast, only 8% more likely to have symptoms of alcohol use disorder at age 35.” who used to drink. Alone,” she said.
Drinking alone during a person’s early 20s increased the risk of alcohol use disorder by 60% compared to social drinkers, but this time there was no difference between men and women. The results held true even after considering other common risk factors, Creswell said.
“Solitary drinking at a young age accounts for the unique risk for future alcohol problems above and beyond the frequency of prior binge drinking and alcohol use, which are (both) well-known risk factors,” she said.
“This suggests that not only should we ask youth how much they are drinking and how often they are drinking in order to identify at-risk youth, but we also need to ask whether they are drinking alone. whether or not,” Creswell said. , “Drinking alone tells us a great deal about the future risk of developing alcohol problems.”
drinking epidemic
Experts say that high levels of alcohol in women are worrying because of the known link between alcohol and female breast cancer risk.
Medical director of the Substance Use Disorders Initiative at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. “There really is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to breast cancer,” Sarah Walkman previously told CNN.
Experts say that if you (or a loved one) is struggling with alcoholism, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are many different support groups that can help, such as 12-step programs and individual therapy.