‘I used delivery apps to hide the shame of alcoholism’

• Alcohol addiction can be masked through anonymous delivery services, making problematic drinking less visible to family, friends, and healthcare providers—a barrier to early identification and intervention that clinicians should be alert to when taking substance use histories.
• Patients with alcohol use disorder may experience shame that drives secretive purchasing behaviours; creating non-judgmental consultation environments and asking specific questions about delivery app usage may improve disclosure and engagement with treatment.
• Healthcare professionals should consider enquiring about online purchasing patterns as part of routine alcohol screening, as traditional methods may underestimate consumption in patients using digital services to conceal their drinking.

Hattie Underwood is a recovered alcoholic and she told 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty how she used delivery apps to "anonymise" her alcohol consumption.

ClinicaliQ summarises and contextualises external updates for clinical awareness, then links to the original publisher for the full article and most current context.