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

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.