How are addicts coping?

Drinking during the day to help stave off lockdown boredom could cause longer-term issues for some people, Salvation Army’s national director of addictions says.

Just having a couple of beers every afternoon will start to to build a pattern of much heavier alcohol use, Lt Colonel Lynette Hutson said.

‘‘That really concerns us. ‘‘And some people, because of the anxieties of our situation, are going to end up with a problem. Drinking more is not the answer for your anxiety or your boredom.’’

For people who have masked their drinking in the past or pretended it was ok, lockdown is going to be difficult, she said.

The Salvation Army is an essential service, so they are still working and its bridge programmes are in business and still able to provide people with support.

Taranaki’s Families Overcoming Addiction facilitator, Sue Philipson, has been on the phone to at least two families every day who are dealing with a loved one with an addiction problem.

She has been hearing concerns about a few people with serious alcohol issues having some withdrawal problems, she said.

‘‘So I’m advising them to get to the emergency department, or ring their GP if they have concerns.’’

Alcohol can be quite dangerous to withdraw from, she said.

‘‘Body functions start closing down, they can have major seizures at that advanced stage of withdrawal. It’s not common but it happens.

‘‘That’s why for someone with a severe alcohol problem who wants to get off alcohol it’s a stepped approach through the hospital alcohol and drug service.’’

If supermarkets didn’t sell wine and beer there would be more people having serious withdrawal, she said.