In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to alcohol will likely become limited due to social-distancing measures mandated by government officials.
Some of these necessary public health strategies—shelter-in-place and closing of non-essential businesses—may in turn cause people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) to find themselves in unsafe scenarios.
Forward thinking about how to reduce harms to people with AUD is critical. Untreated AUD is often managed with daily alcohol use, necessary to stave off cravings and withdrawal.
While evidence-based treatments for AUD exist, such as naltrexone and acamprosate, less than 10 percent of people with AUD in the U.S. receive these medications.
This gap in care is worsened by systemic inequality. The increasing rates of AUD among women, older adults, racial and ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged individuals is a public health emergency.
Because so few people have access to medications for AUD, access to alcohol becomes a matter of life or death.
If alcohol is unavailable, particularly liquor, people may find alcohol from other unsafe sources, specifically non-beverage alcohol ([NBA] e.g., rubbing alcohol, mouthwash, alcohol-based hand sanitizers).
A particularly dangerous NBA is car coolant, which can lead to renal failure and require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Maybe… Liquor Stores Are Essential Businesses?
(Observations | Opinion)
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to alcohol will likely become limited due to social-distancing measures mandated by government officials.
Some of these necessary public health strategies—shelter-in-place and closing of non-essential businesses—may in turn cause people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) to find themselves in unsafe scenarios.
Forward thinking about how to reduce harms to people with AUD is critical. Untreated AUD is often managed with daily alcohol use, necessary to stave off cravings and withdrawal.
While evidence-based treatments for AUD exist, such as naltrexone and acamprosate, less than 10 percent of people with AUD in the U.S. receive these medications.
This gap in care is worsened by systemic inequality. The increasing rates of AUD among women, older adults, racial and ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged individuals is a public health emergency.
Because so few people have access to medications for AUD, access to alcohol becomes a matter of life or death.
If alcohol is unavailable, particularly liquor, people may find alcohol from other unsafe sources, specifically non-beverage alcohol ([NBA] e.g., rubbing alcohol, mouthwash, alcohol-based hand sanitizers).
A particularly dangerous NBA is car coolant, which can lead to renal failure and require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/yes-liquor-stores-are-essential-businesses/