Alcohol Consumption during COVID among Women with an Existing Alcohol-Use Disorder

Jessica D. Hanson, Carolyn Noonan, Amy Harris, Kyra Oziel, Michelle Sarche, Richard F. MacLehose, Marcia O’Leary and Dedra Buchwald
Additional contact information
Jessica D. Hanson: Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN 55812, USA
Carolyn Noonan: Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
Amy Harris: Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN 55812, USA
Kyra Oziel: Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
Michelle Sarche: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Richard F. MacLehose: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
Marcia O’Leary: Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, SD 57625, USA
Dedra Buchwald: Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, Seattle, WA 98101, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-8

Abstract: Prior to the pandemic, our research team implemented a randomized controlled trial of an intervention to reduce risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP) in American Indian women. When active recruitment for the in-person trial was paused due to COVID, the research team moved to conducting follow-up surveys with participants who had completed the intervention to better understand changes to their alcohol use during the pandemic. We collected surveys from 62 American Indian women who had completed the Native CHOICES intervention. Baseline data collected pre-COVID included demographics and scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Follow-up surveys conducted during the active pandemic period included a self-reported questionnaire about changes in drinking patterns. At pre-COVID baseline, all participants were engaged in heavy or binge drinking. At follow-up during COVID, 24.2% reported drinking more, and over half had at least one binge drinking episode. Approximately half reported reduced drinking. We found that risky drinking remained an issue during the pandemic for many American Indian women who had engaged in this behavior pre-COVID, while others reported reducing their alcohol consumption. As the pandemic abates, concerted efforts must be made to reach those with identified alcohol use disorders to offer resources and intervention as needed.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; alcohol; indigenous communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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