People are drinking more in lockdown, but accessing health services less
During the coronavirus outbreak we need to find new ways to get people support.
The outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic has transformed almost every aspect of our world. It has exposed society’s fragility, and for many of us, we will be experiencing some of the most challenging circumstances of our lives.
New research has highlighted changes to how people are drinking during the coronavirus restrictions. We explored some of the motivations behind these changes and what this means for improving how we support people during this time.
Alcohol consumption has changed during lockdown
We know people who drink are not a homogenous group and will address the current challenges in different ways. Research we’ve carried out with our staff, the people we support and the general population paints a complex picture of shifting behavioural and consumption patterns, different motivations and fears, and changes to how we think about drinking.
We commissioned research from YouGov Direct to examine some of these issues. We found that over 6 million people are worried about the drinking of someone they know during the current restrictions. The main reasons given for why people may be drinking included boredom (80%), loneliness (53%) and anxiety (53%).
These findings come as alcohol sales soared in recent months, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists warned problem drinking is significantly increasing during lockdown. Though increased sales doesn’t necessarily mean people will be consuming more, having extra alcohol at home could make it harder for people to moderate their intake and suggests that, for many, alcohol is seen as an ‘essential item’. Alcohol Change UK also found that nearly one in five daily drinkers have increased their alcohol use during lockdown. While those who are infrequent drinkers appear to be drinking less, those who are heavier drinkers are drinking more. With just 4% of the population consuming almost a third of all the alcohol sold in England, there is a real risk that harms among this group will be getting worse.
People are less likely to access health services
Our research also showed that 60% of people were less likely or much less likely to access a non-emergency health service during the current restrictions, with people fearful of putting an extra strain on the NHS and catching Covid-19.
These findings reflect the data from our services and from across the treatment sector, showing new referrals into treatment are down compared to pre-lockdown. With many hospitals taking steps to reduce admission numbers to provide capacity for COVID-19 patients, it’s likely that many people struggling with alcohol will have to cope with these issues in the home without professional support.
Support from family and friends is more important than ever
We know that for many people in recovery, connection and belonging are often vital aspects of their lives. Human connection and relationships are fundamental to helping people make healthier choices and improve their wellbeing. Our research has shown 91% of people thought support from a family member or friend is important or very important in helping someone with an alcohol problem.
With people far less likely to reach out to health services, support from friends and family is more vital than ever. While compassionate, non-judgemental support is key to helping someone reduce their drinking, our research also showed that only 19% of people said they would feel ‘very confident’ to talk to someone they know about their drinking.
As such, we must make it as easy as possible for friends and family to find support and advice. We need to ensure we are giving people the right tools to have the right conversations. The millions of people concerned about the drinking of someone they care about need to know that drug and alcohol services remain open and that we’re there to support them in whatever way we can.
New forms of support are vital
For many people, improving their relationship with alcohol during lockdown will be very challenging. However, being at home can be a place where people are more comfortable and willing to open up. The number of people contacting our online webchat service has started to increase in recent months and calls to our helpline in Scotland have risen by 200% during lockdown. We expect these numbers to continue to increase significantly.
Successfully providing support for people at home, whether through our webchat, website, or helpline, will make a significant difference to many people’s lives. We’re working hard to make sure we continue to provide help and support to anyone who is experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
Our website — www.wearewithyou.org.uk — has some really helpful advice if you are concerned about yourself or someone you know at the current time. You can find advice for yourself or use our pages for friends and family. You can also find the contact details for our local services through our service finder. You can also talk anonymously to a trained advisor via our online webchat.
Our services remain open and we’re doing everything we can to reach out to as many people as possible.
