translated from Spanish: Expert warns of increased alcoholism during quarantine

The Covid-19 pandemic in our country and around the world has brought a number of physical and psychological consequences for the population. Among the most problematic that arise as a result of the confinement measure is increased consumption of alcohol and other substances.
Confinement negatively impacts society’s mental health and could lead to certain risk factors. This is stated by the teacher of the career of Psychology of the Autonomous University of Chile, Alejandro Cifuentes. “No
there is a direct relationship, but quarantine could generate certain risk factors that are associated with consumption. Quarantine itself is a change, a change in our routines, and shocking changes create stress, anxiety,” he explains.
“These are risk factors to the extent that we cannot satisfy them with other activities. Probably when someone was bored, stressed or anxious, could play sports, could go out with friends, they could do some activity abroad. Today, we are limited to this possibility and try to look for other strategies that might not be as adaptive as consuming some drug both illicit and bidding. From that perspective, there is no direct link, but quarantine could favor these risk factors,” says Cifuentes.
For their part, people suffering from dependent consumption prior to social isolation have suffered from physical, psychological and emotional discomfort, due to the deprivation of substances or difficult way to them. “Quarantine would be a deprivation of substances or at least a greater difficulty in access. This results in the body of a person who had an addiction to a substance, the presence of various rather complex physical and physiological symptoms that occur because of the non-satisfaction of that need,” warns the specialist.
“These symptoms manifest as nausea, dizziness, excessive sweating, motor restlessness and other psychological symptoms such as stress, anxiety or irritability. If there is a person who is in this situation, it is important that he can request the relevant help, both pharmacological and psychological, in order to better deal with this situation that is quarantined,” adds Cifuentes.
According to a recent report by Senda, in our country 43.3% of people say they have consumed alcohol in the last month. In addition, one in five alcohol users in the last week get drunk, i.e. ingest more than four drinks. If you need help you can contact the Drugs and Alcohol 1412 phone and ask for professional guidance.

Original source in Spanish