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Aims: Problem drinking in healthcare workers (HCWs) is highly relevant to study as it could result in personal suffering, as well as inefficiencies in health service delivery. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of nondrinking, drinking, and problem drinking and to investigate the comorbidity between drinking alcohol and mental illness (burnout and depression) among HCWs in Sweden.

Methods: This cross-sectional study draws on the 2022 Longitudinal Occupational Health survey in Healthcare Sweden of physicians, nurses, and nurse assistants in Sweden (N = 5966). Measures include levels of alcohol use assessed by the Cut, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye Opener questionnaire, the 12-item Burnout Assessment Tool, and the Symptom CheckList–Core Depression. Multinomial Logistic regressions were used to investigate the likelihood of reporting nondrinking and problem drinking compared to drinking.

Results: The prevalence of problem drinking among Swedish HCWs was 3.7%. Only sex differences were observed for those with a problem drinking, with male nurses and nurse assistants being more likely to report problem drinking. Comorbidity was found between problem drinking and depression but not between problem drinking and burnout.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that ~3.7% of Swedish HCWs had problem drinking and that those also had a higher likelihood of reporting depression but not burnout. Results contribute to new knowledge about the use of alcohol and comorbidities with depression and burnout among HCWs in Sweden. Findings could benefit employers in implementing preventive and tailored strategies to preserve the psychosocial well-being of HCWs.