THERE was an upsurge in alcohol-related admissions to a Bradford rehab treatment facility during a four-month period of the Coronavirus crisis, figures from the UK Addiction Treatment Group have revealed.

An increase in the figures show how, between April 1 and August 1 this year a staggering 73 per cent of all admissions into UKAT’s Bradford-based rehab, Oasis Recovery, were for alcohol addiction.

In comparison, during the same four months of 2019, just 67 per cent of all admissions were for alcohol addiction.

Between April 1, 2019, and August 1, 2019, Oasis Recovery admitted 73 clients into treatment, of which 49 were for alcohol addiction.

In the same four months this year, Oasis Recovery admitted more clients overall (95) and the percentage of those admitted for alcohol rose to 73 per cent (69 clients), demonstrating a significant shift in people’s relationship with alcohol during the Coronavirus crisis.

UKAT groups'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 reported that more people living in the UK consumed more alcohol during the COVID-crisis than they did before, which led to higher alcohol-related fatalities.

Mr Albuquerque said being isolated in lockdown can contribute to people developing unhealthy relationships with alcohol.

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

For help with alcohol addiction in Bradford, visit oasisrecovery.org.uk/alcohol-addiction/v49/