Countless teachers put their students, and their work, before their own health while facing high levels of stress—a leading risk factor for alcohol abuse, according to an article in Education Week.
Educators rank among the top 10 professions most likely to abuse alcohol, according to data collected between 2008 and 2012 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. An estimated 5 percent of educators surveyed reporting heavy alcohol use within the previous month.
In January, the U.S. Surgeon General warned of a direct link between alcohol consumption and increased risk for at least seven types of cancer.
This warning might hit teachers hard. It’s not unusual to routinely celebrate happy hour with colleagues or have a drink or two at home after a stressful workday.
Teachers often turn to alcohol to celebrate both the end of a rough week in the classroom or a good day of teaching. “There’s so much celebration and so much community building that revolves around alcohol and bars for educators,” says one teacher.
Alcohol consumption is on the rise, especially for women, who make up 77 percent of the K-12 public teacher workforce.
Anna Shchetinina, a social epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health led a 2024 national study of the effects of alcohol use disorder on women of reproductive age (18-49). She found that women with alcohol use disorder—defined as an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences—are susceptible to negative health effects including liver and cardiovascular disease, breast and other cancers, sexual violence and mental health problems.
A recent study found binge drinking among women ages 30–44 without children rose from 21 percent in 2006 to 42 percent in 2018. Binge drinking equals four or more drinks for women, or five-plus drinks for men, on a single occasion at least once in the past month.
Many people with alcohol use disorder fail to get treatment, Shchetinina notes. In her study, only about 5 percent of women who self-reported as having alcohol use disorder sought professional treatment. The stigma of acknowledging an alcohol problem can prevent people from seeking help.
Teachers shouldn’t be ashamed to reach out for help, she adds. It’s easier to maintain privacy now with the proliferation of online support communities.
Education Week
