The Link Between Social Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorder
New research published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence indicates that individuals with social anxiety disorder are at an increased risk of developing alcohol use disorder. The study found that social anxiety disorder uniquely predicts alcohol use disorder and that this connection does not hold true for other anxiety disorders. The researchers analyzed data from the National Comorbidity Survey and found evidence supporting the theory that social anxiety has a direct effect on the risk of developing alcohol use disorder. The findings suggest that successfully treating social anxiety could potentially reduce substance use disorders in the population.