“The isolation is one of the hardest things for our folks to deal with right now,” said Beth Elstad, co-founder and project director of Recovery Alliance Duluth. “And coupled with the fear and uncertainty of what’s going to happen next, you know it’s a difficult time for many people.”
But help is available, and it’s being accessed, she said.
Beth Elstad
In an interview last week, Elstad along with Stephany Medina, a substance abuse public health educator for St. Louis County, talked about both concern and hope in a time when there are signs that some are increasingly self-medicating in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
The data on alcohol use aren’t entirely conclusive. What is known is that sales from liquor stores have gone up. Paul Kaspszak, executive director of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association, said in a separate interview that after an initial spike, sales have leveled off somewhat. But they are still up 18%-30% compared with the same time a year ago, he said.
With bars and restaurants closed, that doesn’t necessarily mean people are consuming more alcohol, Elstad said. It could just mean that they’ve had to shift their source for beverages.
Kaspszak added that the sales increase may be as much about quality as quantity. The “average ring” is going up, he said, meaning customers are spending more when they go to the store.
“They seem to be buying more expensive products,” Kaspszak said. “Some establishments are gaining new customers (and) others aren’t, but it’s universal that the ring is going up.”
Still, there are worrying indications that some aren’t coping well with the pandemic effects.
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline has seen an 891% increase in calls since pandemic restrictions began to be implemented, Medina noted.
Stephany Medina
“It’s good to hear that people are reaching out for help,” she said. “But it also shows how we as a society are really, really impacted by this.”
Medina also noted that after past traumatic events, such as Hurricane Katrina and the 911 attacks, spikes in alcohol use disorder occurred and continued for from one to three years, depending on the event.
In some cases, that can manifest itself in domestic violence.
“We know that alcohol and drugs do not cause domestic violence,” Elstad said. “We know that they are an accelerant. So it’s like adding fuel to the fire, and now you’re stuck at home. And in a potential volatile and dangerous situation, we know that … there’s a lot of harm that could happen.”
Nonetheless, keeping liquor stores open as an essential service was wise, Elstad said.
“We would have a crisis on our hands had they been closed,” she said.
An undetermined number of people in the community may have alcohol dependency even if they haven’t been labeled with a substance abuse disorder, Elstad said.
“And should they not be able to get that alcohol, that could cause a devastating impact to their health,” she said.
Despite the concerns, Elstad said she’s encouraged by the way the region’s “recovery community” has responded to the crisis. People with substance abuse issues are using technology, such as online meeting formats, to stay connected and encourage each other, she said.
Medina encourages people to turn to healthy coping mechanisms, such as indoor workouts, outdoor activities while being mindful of social distancing, and joining in on “virtual hangouts” while drinking coffee or tea instead of a virtual happy hour.
Elstad said she recently discovered the joy of virtual bingo.
“Our community is resilient,” she said. “We’re adjusting, and we really want people to know that.”
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May 04, 2020 at 08:00AM
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For some, COVID-19 isolation fuels alcohol harm - Duluth News Tribune
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