Stress Has Adults Drinking and Getting High More

Social distancing and depression could be behind rise in substance use

Some people may be more tempted to drink as they face loneliness and boredom at home. Africa Studio/Shutterstock

During COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, more adults report using alcohol and drugs to cope with stress, researchers report.

More than 1 in 4 adults (28 percent) report using alcohol or drugs to feel better, according to a new study that tracked behaviors a week after the World Health Organization announced the pandemic in mid-March.