The drinking of alcoholic beverages saw a remarkable rise across America during the stressful times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sadly, this increase has hit the Native American communities—the American Indian and Alaska Native populations—the hardest.
A study from Massachusetts General Hospital discovered that the death rate from diseases linked to alcohol in these communities was six times higher than that among white populations.
This glaring discrepancy not only reflects the trying times of the pandemic but also highlights a long-standing problem—these communities have long been neglected, lacking proper health care and essential resources.
Background: Understanding the Risk
Before the pandemic struck, America was already witnessing a gradual rise in alcohol consumption. The pandemic only added fuel to the fire, leading to even higher levels of diseases related to alcohol.
A surprising and worrying detail is that among all racial and ethnic groups, American Indian and Alaska Native populations are found to be more susceptible.
Interestingly, alcohol consumption is known to be generally lower among these groups. However, research indicates that those who do drink in these communities tend to develop excessive drinking habits more easily.
Alcohol-related liver disease, where the liver deteriorates and loses its function, is at the forefront of alcohol-associated diseases.
It’s a growing problem in America, seeing a 43% rise from 2009 to 2015. This alarming growth led to over $5 billion in direct healthcare costs in 2015 alone.
And the numbers are only increasing, with deaths from this disease having gone up by 23% during the peak of the pandemic.
This situation is especially dire in states like Wyoming, South Dakota, and New Mexico, where there’s a significant presence of American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
The Need for Action and Support
To combat this issue, there’s a pressing need for increased preventive healthcare and more resources dedicated to organizations like the Indian Health Service.
This service is responsible for offering comprehensive health services to the approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives spread across 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.
Our findings show the necessity of immediate and robust action at the policy level to raise awareness in these communities about the severe mortality rates from alcohol-related diseases. Implementing universal alcohol screening and preventive health programs is crucial.
It is vital for both state and federal governments to acknowledge and address this escalating problem responsibly before it transforms into a significant health crisis for our country.
Looking Forward: Addressing the Issues
Even as the pandemic begins to fade, alcohol consumption levels have not shown any signs of decreasing. The situation is so serious that the life expectancy in the country dropped to its lowest level since 1996, with alcohol-associated liver disease being one of the top reasons, next to COVID-19 and unintentional injuries.
If we do not take meaningful, deliberate steps to tackle this issue now, it will only worsen, becoming a significant burden on our nation’s healthcare system and adversely affecting communities across the country, particularly the American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
In conclusion, the rise in alcohol consumption and its related diseases, particularly in Native communities, is a pressing concern that needs immediate attention and action from health professionals and policymakers alike.
By raising awareness, allocating resources effectively, and implementing preventive measures, we can hope to curb this growing problem and support the well-being of all communities across the United States.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about a diet that can treat fatty liver disease and obesity, and coffee drinkers may halve their risk of liver cancer.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies that anti-inflammatory diet could help prevent fatty liver disease, and results showing vitamin D could help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Health Forum.
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