Covid-19 Impact
Preliminary data on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on drug and alcohol consumption nationally shows a substantial elevation of overdose deaths and a significant increase in drinking. The psychological stress caused by the disruptive effects of the pandemic, together with an unprecedented number of people working from home, are the two primary drivers of the dramatic rise in substance abuse over the last few years.
Increase in Overdose Deaths Since Covid-19 Pandemic
Drug overdose deaths have increased significantly since the beginning of the pandemic, indicating a substantial increase in overall drug consumption. In 2019, there were approximately 70,630 overdose deaths in the US, the vast majority tied to opiate/opioids. In 2020, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the CDC found that the number of overdose deaths jumped to 93,333, a shocking increase of 32% from 2019. The overdose death rate had been leveling off in the years before the pandemic.
Alcohol Consumption has Increased Substantially
Despite the shuttering of the majority of bars, restaurants, and taverns during the early phases of the pandemic, alcohol consumption increased substantially. Alcohol sales increased 20% during the first year of the pandemic, with distilled liquor sales showing the largest sales gains. The majority of of this increased drinking occurred at home in isolation.
In another study conducted to ascertain the effect of the pandemic on drinking patterns in the US, 60% of those surveyed reported increased drinking. Binge drinking and extreme binge drinking also increased markedly. Only 13% reported decreased alcohol consumption. The most cited reasons for increased drinking were – Stress (45.7%), availability (34.4%), and boredom (30.1%).
Workplace Changes Likely to Remain After the Pandemic
The Covid pandemic is now officially over. But it sparked a profound and likely permanent change in the logistics of office work. Many, especially white-collar workers like lawyers, have become accustomed to working remotely at home. The evolution of work accessibility in the “cloud,” together with the widespread adoption of videoconferencing technology, e.g. Zoom, portend a reimagined “office.” Employers will most likely continue to look to save by reducing office space expenses. It is likely that many who have in the past worked in a traditional office environment will spend far more time telecommuting from home.
Unfortunately, SUD thrives in isolation where accountability structures are lacking. It’s much more difficult to pour a few glasses of wine at the office in the middle of the afternoon. Home, however, is a different story. The customs, norms, peer presence, and rules of the office that act to deter aberrant drinking aren’t present when people are working from home. For those on the cusp of developing SUD, or already struggling, the isolation of the home-work environment provides fertile ground for the development and progression of SUD.
Law firms and other legal service employers need to be mindful of the dangers of staff working from home and implement measures to address the SUD risk in the emerging work-from-home model.