• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

Open Search
  • Academics
    • Bachelor's Degrees
      • BSPH in Community Health
      • BSPH in Environmental Health
      • BSPH in Epidemiology
      • BSPH in Fitness & Wellness
      • BS in Applied Health Science
      • BS in Kinesiology
      • BS in Recreation
    • Master's Degrees
      • Master of Public Health
      • MS in Applied Health Science
      • MS in Athletic Training
      • MS in Environmental & Occupational Health
      • MS in Kinesiology
      • MS in Recreation
    • Doctoral Degrees
      • PhD in Environmental Health
      • PhD in Epidemiology
      • PhD in Health Behavior
      • PhD in Human Performance
      • PhD in Leisure Behavior
    • Online Programs
      • My Public Health Direct
    • Minors
    • Certificates
    • Physical Activity Electives
    • Continuing Education
    • Academic Advising
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
      • Undergraduate
      • Graduate
      • International
    • Cost & Finances
    • Visit Us
  • Career Services
  • Student Experience
    • Life in the School of Public Health
    • Classroom Experience
    • Living Learning Center
    • Study Abroad
    • Student Organizations
  • Faculty & Research
    • Faculty Directory
      • Postdoctoral Fellows & Research Associates Directory
      • Emeriti Faculty
    • Centers and Institutes
    • Departments
      • Applied Health Science
      • Environmental and Occupational Health
      • Epidemiology and Biostatistics
      • Kinesiology
      • Health & Wellness Design
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Ways to Give
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Dean’s Alliance
    • Alumni Association Board
    • Distinguished Alumni Awards
    • Virtual Graduate Recognition
      • Winter Class of 2020
      • Spring Class of 2020
  • About
    • Administration
    • Offices
    • People at the School
    • Accreditation
    • Join our Team
    • Contact
  • Current SPH Students
    • Advising
    • Career Services
    • Financial Support
      • Scholarships
        • Scholarships: A-M
        • Scholarships: N-Z
        • Student Government Award Application
      • Fellowships
      • Fellowship & Scholarship Application
        • Fellowship & Scholarship Application: FAQs
    • Study Abroad
    • Student Organizations
    • Forms
    • Student Diversity & Inclusion
    • Graduation
    • Contact
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Distinguished Colloquium Speaker Series
    • For Media Professionals

School of Public Health

  • Home
  • Academics
    • Bachelor's Degrees
    • Master's Degrees
    • Doctoral Degrees
    • Online Programs
    • Minors
    • Certificates
    • Physical Activity Electives
    • Continuing Education
    • Academic Advising
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
    • Cost & Finances
    • Visit Us
  • Career Services
  • Student Experience
    • Life in the School of Public Health
    • Classroom Experience
    • Living Learning Center
    • Study Abroad
    • Student Organizations
  • Faculty & Research
    • Faculty Directory
    • Centers and Institutes
    • Departments
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Ways to Give
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Dean’s Alliance
    • Alumni Association Board
    • Distinguished Alumni Awards
    • Virtual Graduate Recognition
  • About
    • Administration
    • Offices
    • People at the School
    • Accreditation
    • Join our Team
    • Contact
  • Search
  • Current SPH Students
  • News & Events
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • News
  • Survey Study Shows Alcohol Use, Frequency Grew Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Survey Study Shows Alcohol Use, Frequency Grew Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Hank Green

Indiana University-Bloomington's Dr. Hank Green recently confirmed that adults are turning to alcohol with increasing frequency during the coronavirus pandemic. Green, an associate professor in the School of Public Health— along with Michael Pollard and Joan Tucker of The RAND Corporation—published their joint findings in the journal JAMA Network Open on September 29, 2020.

The survey study, "Changes in Adult Alcohol Use and Consequences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US," noted that alcohol consumption went up by 14% overall and by 17% for women. What's more, alcohol use in the 30-to-59 age group increased by 19%.

The researchers used nationally representative, probability-sampled data from the RAND Corporation American Life Panel (ALP). ALP subjects aged 30 to 80 consented to participate, and researchers compared pre-pandemic alcohol use (April 29 to June 9, 2019) with alcohol use from the period when COVID-19-related social distancing measures were widely in place (May 28 to June 16, 2020). Dr. Green and his colleagues intend to conduct the longitudinal surveys one year apart for a total of four years.

Although much is presently known about the impetus behind adolescent drinking, the work by Green, Pollard, and Tucker marks the first nationally representative study of adult social networks and substance use. The study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The institute is also funding a supplemental study to assess possible links between the social network changes, physical isolation, and loneliness relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in mental health, physical health, and alcohol use in people aged 30 to 80.

In addition, Green, Pollard, and Tucker hope to gauge the potential impact that social networks may have on these changes overall as well as in terms of sex, age, and race/ethnicity.

"Their current findings—not to mention those of the work that is still to come—have truly broad public health significance," says Dean David B. Allison. "We're very excited to see where it leads and how other researchers will choose to build upon this new base. Our School's motto is 'It's About Knowing', and this research is a beautiful exemplar."

  • News
  • Events
  • Distinguished Colloquium Speaker Series
  • For Media Professionals

School of Public Health social media channels

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Flickr

Indiana University

Accessibility | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2021 The Trustees of Indiana University