More Americans than Canadians use alcohol to dull their pain

The study was based on an online survey of more than 4,000 adults, which asked them to choose up to 10 pain treatment options including things like medication, physical therapy and exercise. (pexels/pixabay) - New research explores pain management strategies including the use of prescription medications and alcohol From exercise and over-the-counter medications to alcohol use and prescription drugs, North Americans report using a number of different strategies to manage and prevent day-to-day pain. Some of these strategies are useful to mitigate pain, and others, like alcohol, are actually counterproductive and can make pain worse. A new study from Western researchers explored how frequently people use a variety of pain management strategies, and how those correlate to their level of pain and other factors, including where they live. Sociology professor Anna Zajacova (Cliff Davidson) The research team, led by sociology professor Anna Zajacova , found that adults who reported high levels of pain were eight times more likely to use alcohol as a pain management strategy than those who had low levels or no pain. They also found Americans were twice as likely than Canadians to turn to alcohol to dull their pain, with just under four per cent of Canadian respondents saying they used alcohol as a pain management strategy, compared to almost eight per cent in the U.S. That number jumped to 21 per cent for those with the highest levels of pain in both countries. The study appeared in a special issue on pain and pain management in the journal Innovation in Aging published online.