Examining the Causes of Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-sectional Study

Alcohol poisoning was reported in parallel with the increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 disease in Iran. The coincidence of these two widespread outbreaks has prompted researchers to pay attention to a study aimed at investigating the reasons for alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The present study was a retrospective cross-sectional study that examined the archives of 182 patients hospitalized between March 2020 and April 2020 in Imam Khomeini hospital in Ardabil using a checklist and a census sampling method. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 using central statistical indicators and dispersion to examine the amount and distribution of variables.

Out of 182 patients admitted due to alcohol poisoning, 168 patients stated that their reason for abuse was fear of corona virus. The most common type of alcohol consumed was methanol. The most common symptoms of the patients were nausea and visual disturbances. Of these, 159 patients suffered serious kidney complications and 10 patients died.

Considering the increase in harmful alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic and its destructive effects, it is necessary to improve public’ awareness for dangers of alcohol consumption as well as prevention and treatment methods of the disease during the pandemics.