Alcohol and other substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

Roberts, Amanda; Rogers, Jim; Mason, Rachael; Siriwardena, A Niroshan; Hogue, Todd; Whitley, Gregory Adam; Law, Graham

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109150

Cited by 290 publications

(244 citation statements)

References 125 publications

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“…There was no evidence suggesting that the AUDIT-C outcomes observed in this study were influenced by acute and/or Long COVID effects, or by other factors such as pre-existing mental illness, or the pandemic's adverse psychosocial impacts 46 .…”

Section: Comparisons With Existing Literaturecontrasting

confidence: 57%

Mental health and alcohol use among patients attending a post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic: a cohort study

et al. 2022

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Background: Ongoing mental health problems following COVID-19 infection warrant greater examination. This study aimed to investigate psychiatric symptoms and problematic alcohol use among Long COVID patients. Methods: The study was conducted at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital’s post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic in Dublin, Ireland. A prospective cohort study design was used encompassing assessment of patients’ outcomes at 2-4 months following an initial clinic visit (Time 1), and 7–14-month follow-up (Time 2). Outcomes regarding participants’ demographics, acute COVID-19 healthcare use, mental health, and alcohol use were examined. Results: The baseline sample’s (n = 153) median age = 43.5yrs (females = 105 (68.6%)). Sixty-seven of 153 patients (43.8%) were admitted to hospital with COVID-19, 9/67 (13.4%) were admitted to ICU, and 17/67 (25.4%) were readmitted to hospital following an initial COVID-19 stay. Sixteen of 67 (23.9%) visited a GP within seven days of hospital discharge, and 26/67 (38.8%) did so within 30 days. Seventeen of 153 participants (11.1%) had a pre-existing affective disorder. The prevalence of clinical range depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores at Time 1 and Time 2 (n = 93) ranged from 12.9% (Time 1 anxiety) to 22.6% (Time 1 PTSD). No statistically significant differences were observed between Time 1 and Time 2 depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores. Problematic alcohol use was common at Time 1 (45.5%) and significantly more so at Time 2 (71.8%). Clinical range depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores were significantly more frequent among acute COVID-19 hospital admission and GP attendance (30 days) participants, as well as among participants with lengthy ICU stays, and those with a previous affective disorder diagnosis. Conclusions: Ongoing psychiatric symptoms and problematic alcohol use in Long COVID populations are a concern and these issues may be more common among individuals with severe acute COVID-19 infection and /or pre-existing mental illness.

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Section: Comparisons With Existing Literaturecontrasting

confidence: 57%

Mental health and alcohol use among patients attending a post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic: a cohort study

et al. 2022

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“…How long routine changes are sustained after lockdown is yet to be fully evaluated; however, at the time of the present study, those with positive behaviour changes appeared conscious about the need to maintain good habits. Changes in physical activity [ 75 ], diet [ 76 ], substance use and other health behaviours [ 77 , 78 ] are highlighted in the international literature, often suggesting negative implications because of distancing and COVID-19. Other literature suggests that home-based activities such as exercise, yoga, and relaxation [ 79 , 80 ] and access to green spaces [ 35 , 81 ] can improve wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, although perhaps only for more mobile members of the population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown and Wellbeing: Experiences from Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020

Officer

Imlach

McKinlay

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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In 2020, in the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Aotearoa New Zealand consistently maintained stringent public health measures including stay-at-home lockdowns and distancing responses. Considering the widespread disruption to social functioning caused by the pandemic, this paper aimed to explore environmental and social factors that influenced the wellbeing of individuals during the first lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our mixed-methods study involved a survey (n = 1010) and semi-structured interviews of a subset of surveyed individuals undertaken at the tail end of the first 2020 lockdown. Survey participants were recruited through social media-driven snowball sampling, less than 50% were aged under 45 years and 85% identified as female. Of those interviewed, 63% identified as female. Qualitative interview findings and open-ended survey results were analysed thematically. Participants described a variety of factors influencing wellbeing, largely related to the community and household; physical, behavioural, and lifestyle factors; access to health services; and social and economic foundations. While much of the focus of COVID-19 recovery was on reversing the economic and physical toll of the pandemic, our findings emphasise the need to empower individuals, families, and communities to mitigate the pandemic’s negative implications on wellbeing.

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“…In our study, alcohol intake increased marginally over the first four months of the pandemic, especially among people with self-reported COVID-19 symptoms. A recent review showed that mental health was the most reported risk factor in increased alcohol use during the pandemic [ 48 ]. In the Netherlands, the strictness of regulations, including closing restaurants and bars, the curfew and the alcohol ban in supermarkets after 8pm, did not affect the percentage of people changing their alcohol intake [ 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the Netherlands, the strictness of regulations, including closing restaurants and bars, the curfew and the alcohol ban in supermarkets after 8pm, did not affect the percentage of people changing their alcohol intake [ 49 ]. In the long term, both increases and decreases in alcohol intake can be expected due to distress related to the pandemic [ 48 , 50 ], and further research is needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Perceived Stress and Lifestyle Behaviors in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Netherlands: An Online Longitudinal Survey Study

Slurink

Smaardijk

Kop

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic has substantial implications for physical and mental wellbeing. This study investigated changes, over time, in lifestyle behaviors and perceived stress during the initial phase of the pandemic and associations with COVID-19 symptoms, in the Dutch general population. An online longitudinal survey study was performed with pre-lockdown measurements in February, and subsequently in April and June 2020 (n = 259, mean age 59 ± 14 years, 59% women). Self-report questionnaires were used to assess weight, diet quality, physical activity, alcohol intake, and smoking. Perceived stress was measured using the validated perceived stress scale (PSS-10). The presence of COVID-19 symptoms (yes/no) was defined as fever, or >3 of the following symptoms: weakness/tiredness, muscle ache, dry cough, loss of smell/taste, and breathing difficulties. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models, adjusted for age, sex, educational level, marital status and (change in) employment status. Minimal increases over time were observed in alcohol intake (0.6 ± 0.7 to 0.7 ± 1.1 glasses/day, p = 0.001) and smoking (9.5 ± 8.7 to 10.9 ± 9.4 cigarettes/day among 10% smokers, p = 0.03), but other lifestyle behaviors remained stable. In April 2020, 15% reported COVID-19-related symptoms, and in June 2020, this was 10%. The presence of COVID-19 symptoms was associated with increased perceived stress (pinteraction = 0.003) and increased alcohol consumption (pinteraction = 0.03) over time. In conclusion, in this prospective study, COVID-19 symptoms were associated with increases in perceived stress and alcohol consumption. Future research on biopsychosocial determinants and underlying mechanisms of lifestyle changes, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is needed.

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Alcohol and other substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

Cited by 290 publications

References 125 publications

Mental health and alcohol use among patients attending a post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic: a cohort study

Mental health and alcohol use among patients attending a post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic: a cohort study

COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown and Wellbeing: Experiences from Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020

Changes in Perceived Stress and Lifestyle Behaviors in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Netherlands: An Online Longitudinal Survey Study

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