File photo
File photo
Alcohol usage in the Panhandle’s second-largest city has risen since the beginning of the year.
Dr. Donald Hubbard, medical director of Exceptional Emergency Centers of Amarillo, told KFDA that an uptick has occurred in the previous two months. While it is usually during the holiday season that people in Amarillo drink more, the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on everyday life have pushed many to hit the bottle as a coping mechanism.
Gene Plemons, peer recovery coach at Dailey Recovery Service, said his facility and other treatment centers are very busy. Plemons added that Amarillo lacks many support services because they were rendered unavailable because of the coronavirus. Without these services, Hubbard and Plemons said it is almost not a shock that drinking has increased. Hubbard, however, said alcoholism is treatable.
“You can get past these issues,” the doctor told KFDA.
Alerts Sign-up