Using alcohol to cope with increased stress and uncertainty during the pandemic is on the rise, but tools and resources are available for those who might need a little extra help finding better ways to manage their emotions.

“This is something that is definitely worth paying attention to, especially after the year we have all had with the months of lockdowns and restrictions related to the pandemic,” saidMichael Weaver, MD，德克萨斯大学健康科学中心的麦戈文医学院精神病学教授（休斯顿UTHealth).

Weaver said that there are several reasons why a person might turn to alcohol. “Alcohol helps reduce anxiety, and this can be a coping mechanism. Some people don’t have good coping skills to begin with, so they turn to alcohol to make up for that. Other people don’t have good role models and drink instead of working on other ways to deal with worries and problems. Still others have a genetic predisposition such that the beneficial effects of alcohol are greater for them, so they are more likely to drink to cope,” he said.

Weaver said signs of a problem with alcohol dependence might start small, such as having more drinks than someone normally would in a single sitting. Those signs grow when someone might start avoiding socializing with family, friends, and co-workers in favor of drinking alone. Or they might arrive late to work after waking up with a hangover.

“A big warning sign, particularly during the pandemic, is when people start drinking more often to treat ‘uncomfortable feelings’ of depression, anxiety, or boredom,” Weaver said. Unfortunately, as a person keeps drinking, they require more and more alcohol to achieve the same level of stress reduction.

A drink is classified as one 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1-ounce shot of hard liquor like vodka or tequila, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Guidelines from the NIAAA suggest that men under the age of 65 can enjoy two drinks per day or 14 per week, while men over the age of 65 should limit themselves to just one drink per day or seven per week. Regardless of age, women should indulge in only one drink per day or seven per week.

韦弗说：“为那些苦苦挣扎的人的待遇是广泛可用的，有效。”他补充说，最好的第一步是让某人与像初级保健医生，辅导员或治疗师或神职人员一样值得信赖的人交谈。

A simpleonline quizis available to fill out if you think you or a loved one might be developing alcohol dependence. It is anonymous and can assess whether your habits should be cause for concern.

If you or a loved one needs to seek treatment for alcohol dependence, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has atoolwhere you can input your ZIP code to find a list of treatment centers near you.

“学会在不喝酒的情况下以生活的方式处理生活是从酒精使用障碍中恢复的一个挑战性方面。从治疗师，酗酒匿名群体或值得信赖的榜样的治疗师那里获得帮助非常重要。抵制喝酒和以替代方式应对的冲动是康复的重要方面。”韦弗说。

While those who have sought treatment for alcohol-related issues have been given tools and ways to graciously refuse a drink, Weaver thinks it is important to remember that it is never completely obvious that a person might have a problem with alcohol use now, or had had a problem in the past.

“It is always good to be cognizant and never give someone the idea that a drink is the best way to deal with a difficult problem or emotion,” he said. “Instead of saying, ‘I need a drink,' at the end of a long day a week, say something like, ‘I am going to go home and not think about work for the next 12 hours.'”