Higher ratio of alcoholics checking into Luton rehab during Covid-19 pandemic

Between April 1 and August 1, UKAT’s Liberty House rehab centre in Luton treated 83 patients for alcohol addiction - representing 81% of all admissions.

Over the same period last year, the same centre treated 97 people for alcohol addiction (69%).

Although the numbers of admissions overall has reduced this year - possibly due to patients living in self isolation - health bosses are concerned at the rising percentage being treated for alcohol abuse.

UKAT’s head of treatment, Nuno Albuquerque said: “The coronavirus crisis has affected people in different ways.

"For some, a way of coping with the pandemic would have been to turn to alcohol, or to drink more alcohol than they did previously, in order to feel calm about the unfolding and devastating situation happening across the world.

“But it’s important to remember that alcohol is a depressant and regular, heavy drinking interferes with chemicals in the brain that are key for good mental health.

"Feeling relaxed after a drink is short-lived, whereas over time, alcohol can have an impact on your mental health and can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety and worse still, it actually makes stressful situations like the Covid-crisis harder to deal with.”

It has been widely reported that more and more people living in the UK consumed more alcohol during the Covid-crisis than they did before. Unfortunately, this has also led to higher alcohol-related fatalities.

Psychologists warn that being self-isolated in lockdown can contribute to people developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

Mr Albuquerque added: “The last few months have forced people into isolation and to contemplate what is important to them.

"For some, drinking heavily was a way of suppressing feelings of worry, loneliness and fear, but for others, it was a time to reflect and to ask themselves if continuing to drink was the right thing for them.

“Thankfully, those people decided that enough was enough, and we’re seeing more and more people than ever before across Bedfordshire take that first brave step in investing in their health in order to protect their future, and asking for help with their alcohol addiction.”