The Worsening Outcomes of the COVID-19 Lockdowns on Patients with a History of Alcoholism

Abstract

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe psychosocial distress, anxiety, and fear on a global and national level. Implementing quarantines by applying nationwide lockdowns had its effect on increasing mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, particularly alcohol use disorder (AUD). Lockdowns had difficult psychosocial consequences, such as isolation and separation from loved ones and loss of freedom. AUD is considered one of the leading causes of preventable death. Alcohol dependence is associated with psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depression, panic attacks, mania, hypomania, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and suicide. The stress–alcohol relationship is bidirectional, stress exacerbates alcohol consumption and alcohol intake leads to additional stress. Alcohol use had additional negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancellations of in-person support groups during COVID-19 pandemic have made it difficult for those who are recovering from AUD to stay sober. The double effect of the disruption of social support networks and the stresses of the pandemic has caused relapse to alcohol use. In some countries, heavy drinkers were not able to access their daily dose of alcohol which led to the development of sudden withdrawal symptoms and sudden rise in hospitalization. In this literature, we review some of the deliberating consequences of COVID-19 and AUD on social, mental, and physical health.