Associations Between Alcohol Use and Self-reported Pain: Insights From the 2020 National Health Interview Survey

Alcohol use and pain are both prevalent public health concerns, yet their associations at the population level remain understudied. This study examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and self-reported pain among US adults.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative data set by the National Center for Health Statistics. The analytic sample included 24,499 adults aged ≥18 years (mean age=51.6, SD=18.0). Alcohol consumption in the past 12 months was categorized as nondrinking (<1 drink ever), light (≤3 drinks/wk), moderate (males: 4-14; females: 4-7 drinks/wk), and heavy (males: >14; females: >7 drinks/wk) drinking. Pain (acute or chronic) frequency, severity, and interference over the past 3 months were assessed via self-report. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate associations.

A dose-response relationship was observed: compared with nondrinkers, odds of experiencing pain were higher among heavy drinkers (aOR=1.76; 95% CI: 1.30-2.37), moderate (aOR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.10-1.76), and light (aOR=1.32; 95% CI: 1.10-1.60). Our analyses further revealed that while pain frequency and severity were significantly associated with the severity of alcohol use, pain-related interference with daily life and family functioning did not differ significantly by drinking status. Opioid use was also more common among moderate and heavy drinkers.

Higher alcohol consumption is significantly associated with increased likelihood of pain, with a clear dose-response pattern. Findings underscore the need for integrated screening and intervention targeting both alcohol use and pain.