Drinking more alcohol after a traumatic event may increase PTSD risk

It has long been believed that PTSD increases the risk for excess drinking, but in some cases it may actually be the other way around

By Grace Wade

Drinking more alcohol in the months after a traumatic experience may increase the risk of developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as nightmares and flashbacks.

PTSD is a mental health condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Nearly half of those with the condition also have a substance use disorder, and it is widely believed that is because people with PTSD use alcohol and drugs to try to …