At the intersection of mental health and substance abuse, organizations emphasize sobriety culture

As organizations continue to navigate the fallout from COVID-19 on employees, another issue tied to mental health is on the rise: Substance abuse.

A recent study by RAND, the nonprofit research organization, found alcohol consumption in the U.S. has increased significantly. It saw a 14% increase in overall alcohol consumption between 2019 and 2020 in adults over the age of 30. But more discouraging was a 41% increase in heavy drinking among women.

Industries such as hospitality, medical and entertainment were already struggling with substance abuse and addiction. But the pandemic’s mental-health toll has taken the issue to a new level across industries. A CDC survey from August showed anxiety and depression were three times higher than pre-pandemic numbers, and 13.3% of respondents reported they had started or increased substance abuse as a result.