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Associations Between Alcohol Use and Self-reported Pain: Insights From the 2020 National Health Interview Survey
Journal of Addiction Medicine
|October 24, 2025
Summary
Higher alcohol consumption is linked to increased pain. This study found a dose-response relationship between alcohol intake and the likelihood of experiencing pain in US adults.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Alcohol use and pain are significant public health issues.
- Population-level associations between alcohol consumption and pain are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and self-reported pain in US adults.
- To investigate the dose-response pattern of alcohol use on pain prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of the 2020 National Health Interview Survey (N = 24,499 adults).
- Alcohol consumption categorized into nondrinking, light, moderate, and heavy drinking.
- Pain assessed for frequency, severity, and interference; logistic regression used for analysis.
Main Results:
- A dose-response relationship was observed: higher alcohol consumption correlated with increased odds of pain.
- Heavy, moderate, and light drinkers had significantly higher odds of pain compared to nondrinkers.
- Pain frequency and severity were associated with alcohol use severity; pain interference was not significantly different by drinking status. Opioid use was higher in moderate and heavy drinkers.
Conclusions:
- Increased alcohol consumption is significantly associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing pain.
- Findings highlight the need for integrated interventions for alcohol use and pain management.
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