abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered significant psychosocial distress, anxiety, and fear on both global and national levels. Nationwide lockdowns, implemented to curb the spread of the virus, have inadvertently contributed to a rise in mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, particularly alcohol use disorder (AUD). These lockdowns have had profound psychosocial consequences, such as isolation, separation from loved ones, and loss of freedom. AUD is one of the leading causes of preventable death, and alcohol dependence is often linked to psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, panic attacks, mania, hypomania, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and suicide. The relationship between stress and alcohol consumption is bidirectional-stress can increase alcohol intake, and alcohol consumption can, in turn, heighten stress. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the negative consequences of alcohol use. The cancellation of in-person support groups during the pandemic made it difficult for individuals recovering from AUD to maintain sobriety. The combined impact of disrupted social support networks and the stresses of the pandemic has led to a higher rate of relapse into alcohol use. In some countries, heavy drinkers were unable to access their usual supply of alcohol, leading to sudden withdrawal symptoms and a spike in hospitalizations.