The early impact of COVID-19 on the incidence, prevalence, and severity of alcohol use and other drugs: A systematic review

Schmidt, Rose A.; Genois, Rosalie; Jin, Jonathan; Vigo, Daniel; Rehm, Jürgen; Rush, Brian

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109065

Cited by 116 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…Our findings largely parallel results from existing online surveys of alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting stronger declines in drinking in Colombia [ 18 ] than in Mexico [ 19 ] (for an international review of studies, see eg, [ 20 ]). As a key driver for reduced alcohol consumption during the pandemic, restrictions to social gatherings have been suggested, both in terms of closed bars, venues and events and acceptable social contact with colleagues, friends and family [ 21 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Reduced alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analyses of 17 000 patients seeking primary health care in Colombia and Mexico

et al. 2022

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Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase of heavy alcohol use has been reported in several high-income countries. We examined changes in alcohol use during the pandemic among primary health care (PHC) patients in two middle income countries, Colombia and Mexico. Methods Data were collected during routine consultations in 34 PHC centres as part of a large-scale implementation study. Providers measured patients’ alcohol consumption with the three item ‘Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test’ (AUDIT-C). Generalized linear mixed models were performed to examine changes in two dependent variables over time (pre-pandemic and during pandemic): 1) the AUDIT-C score and 2) the proportion of heavy drinking patients (8+ on AUDIT-C). Results Over a period of more than 600 days, data from N = 17 273 patients were collected. During the pandemic, the number of patients with their alcohol consumption measured decreased in Colombia and Mexico. Each month into the pandemic was associated with a 1.5% and 1.9% reduction in the mean AUDIT-C score in Colombia and Mexico, respectively. The proportion of heavy drinking patients declined during the pandemic in Colombia (pre-pandemic: 5.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.8% to 6.0%; during the pandemic: 0.8%, 95% CI = 0.6% to 1.1%) but did not change in Mexico. Conclusions Average consumption levels declined and the prevalence of heavy drinking patterns did not increase. In addition to reduced opportunities for social drinking during the pandemic, changes in the population seeking PHC and restrictions in alcohol availability and affordability are likely drivers for lower levels of alcohol use by patients in this study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Reduced alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analyses of 17 000 patients seeking primary health care in Colombia and Mexico

et al. 2022

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“…Large-scale events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may increase rates of high-risk behaviors, including substance use [36]. However, research examining substance use during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic has been largely inconsistent [8]. Longitudinal research is necessary to understand the true impact of COVID-19 on substance use [31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, an international study conducted in April 2020, after most US states issued stay-at-home orders, found that 35.0% of adults were using substances to cope, where 35.6% of adults who drank alcohol reported drinking more than usual, and 55.1% of adults who used marijuana reported smoking more than usual [5]. Several studies of adults in the US have demonstrated sharp increases in the sales and usage of alcohol and marijuana during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic [3,[6][7][8]. In one study of US adults, average drinks per day increased by 29.0%, drinking that exceeded drinking limits increased by 20.0%, and binge drinking increased by 21.0% following the initiation of stay-at-home orders [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polysubstance use in a community sample of Black cisgender sexual minority men and transgender women in Chicago during initial COVID-19 pandemic peak

Moody

Chen

Schneider

et al. 2022

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

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Background In response to COVID-19, the city of Chicago issued stay-at-home orders, which began on March 20, 2020, and restrictions meant to “flatten the curve” remained in effect until June 2, 2020. On June 3, 2020, Chicago entered the reopening phase. This study compares rates of polysubstance use by COVID-19 lockdown phase and across sociodemographic characteristics in a Chicago-based sample of Black cisgender sexual minority men (SMM) and transgender women. Method Data come from the Neighborhood and Networks (N2) cohort, an ongoing study of Black cisgender SMM and transgender women living in Chicago. Participants (N = 226) completed a survey between April 20, 2020, and July 30, 2020, during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chicago. We conducted chi-square tests of independence and modified Poisson regression models with robust error variance and estimated adjusted prevalence ratios. Results Alcohol and marijuana were the most used substances, with 73.5% reporting at least one drinking day and 71.2% of the sample reporting marijuana use in the past 14 days. Tobacco was used by 41.6% of the sample, and illegal drug use, which does not include marijuana, was reported by 17.7% of the sample. Substance use was consistently associated with the use of other substances. As such, polysubstance use (i.e., using two or more substances) was common in this sample (63.7%). Few sociodemographic differences emerged, and substance use was not associated with lockdown phase. Conclusion Substance use, including polysubstance use, was high in our sample of Black SMM and transgender women during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued monitoring is needed given the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative health consequences associated with substance use in this population.

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“…A second narrative, supported by several studies, is that many people have increased their use of alcohol and other drugs, possibly due to psychological effect of pandemic-related social restrictions ( Barbosa et al, 2021 ; Horigian et al, 2021 ; Rodriguez et al, 2020 ; Schmidt et al, 2021 ). With respect to these processes, we hypothesized that people's behavioral responses to pandemic-related restrictions could be driven in either a favorable or unfavorable direction depending on the degree of match (or mismatch) between their self-rated degree of introversion and the social demands (or opportunities) associated with the microenvironment into which they were locked down.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Were self-described introverts "immune" to increased drug use and entrapment during the pandemic?

Panlilio

Lee

Smith

et al. 2022

Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports

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Background Social restrictions and other stressors related to the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted daily life in ways that might have increased drug use and undermined mental health. We investigated whether such changes depended on the amount and quality of a person's social activity. We also evaluated the popular idea that effects of pandemic-related restrictions would depend on introversion; to this end, we used self-described introversion as a proxy for preferred frequency of social activity. Methods Between September 2020 and March 2021, we obtained online-survey data from 2,615 respondents who retrospectively reported alcohol, opioid, or psychostimulant use. We analyzed (1) changes in drug use and entrapment (a psychological construct linked to suicidality) as a function of introversion and the frequency and quality of social activity, and (2) changes in drug use as a function of change in entrapment. Results Most felt more entrapped during the pandemic, but only a minority increased drug use. Generally: (1) entrapment and drug use increased in respondents unsatisfied with their social activity, (2) introversion and frequency of activity had less influence than satisfaction, (3) introverts reported more symptoms of entrapment, anxiety, depression, and loneliness than non-introverts, (4) when social activity was frequent and unsatisfying, psychostimulant use increased in introverts and opioid use increased in extraverts, (5) alcohol use increased in those who felt increased entrapment, and (6) alcohol and opioid use decreased in those who felt decreased entrapment. Conclusions Satisfactory social activity (even in small amounts) was associated with better outcomes, mostly without regard to introversion.

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The early impact of COVID-19 on the incidence, prevalence, and severity of alcohol use and other drugs: A systematic review

Cited by 116 publications

References 93 publications

Reduced alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analyses of 17 000 patients seeking primary health care in Colombia and Mexico

Reduced alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analyses of 17 000 patients seeking primary health care in Colombia and Mexico

Polysubstance use in a community sample of Black cisgender sexual minority men and transgender women in Chicago during initial COVID-19 pandemic peak

Were self-described introverts "immune" to increased drug use and entrapment during the pandemic?

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