Dr Frank Spinelli, a doctor and author, has shared his experience of increased alcohol consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. He described how the loss of routine and structure during this period, alongside feelings of isolation, contributed to his recovery from childhood sexual abuse feeling fragile.
Spinelli, who had not previously had issues with alcohol, began drinking more frequently. What started as a glass of wine with dinner escalated, and he later began drinking in secret, hiding bottles and consuming vodka during dog walks.
His struggle intensified when he received a 47-page questionnaire for a class-action lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America. Spinelli, one of 95,000 alleged survivors of sexual abuse within the organisation, found himself relying on alcohol to complete the document, which asked him to detail the abuse and its impact. He described this process as feeling like another violation, bringing back feelings of shame related to the abuse and his coping mechanisms.