By Sandee LaMotte

Original Source: cnn.com

Drinking alone during adolescence and young adulthood can strongly increase the risk for alcohol abuse later in life, especially if you are a woman, a new study finds.

Add that finding to the documented increase in drinking among Americans during the pandemic, and you have a worrisome situation, said lead study author Kasey Creswell, an associate professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"Several studies have now shown that solitary drinking increased as a result of the pandemic," likely due to the closure of bars and social venues during stay-at-home measures, Creswell said.

"Studies have also shown that the associations between solitary drinking and alcohol problems are stronger for young women compared to young men," she said. "This is especially concerning given that there have been recent increases in solitary drinking among US female adolescents."

Studies have also documented...click here to continue reading

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