**Study Reveals Persistent Increase in Alcohol Consumption Post-COVID**

A recent study has highlighted a troubling trend: Americans' drinking habits have continued to intensify even after the initial surge during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the research, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, there has been a continued rise in alcohol consumption into 2022.

Dr. Brian P. Lee, a hepatologist at the University of Southern California and the principal investigator of the study, noted that a significant increase in patients with alcohol-related problems was observed as the pandemic began. "People assumed this was caused by acute stress, like what we saw with 9/11 and Katrina, and typically it goes back to normal after these stressful events are over," Dr. Lee stated. "But that's not what we're seeing."

The data reveals that not only has the percentage of Americans who consume alcohol increased from 2018 to 2020, but this trend continued into 2021 and 2022. More alarming is the uptick in heavy or binge drinking reported by many participants. This escalation has contributed to a surge in alcohol-related problems, including liver disease.

Adding weight to these findings, Christian Hendershot, director of clinical research at USC's Institute for Addiction Science, mentioned that alcohol-related deaths surged by 25 percent in 2020. This increase underscores the severity of the issue, illustrating that the pandemic's impact on drinking habits is profound and enduring.

Experts are concerned that this persistent rise in alcohol consumption and related disorders may indicate deeper, more systemic issues. The addictive nature of alcohol, as Dr. Lee pointed out, means that the problems associated with increased consumption do not simply disappear even when the initial stressor is removed. The ongoing trend suggests a need for continued attention to and resources for addressing alcohol addiction and its extensive health impacts.