51
|
Analyzing the Behavior of Cannabis Users during the COVID-19 Confinement in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111324. [PMID: 34769848 PMCID: PMC8583130 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives is unquestionable, including in the area of substance consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the pattern of cannabis use during the Spanish COVID-19 lockdown and confinement, and to analyze the variations in the reported motives for cannabis use and withdrawal symptoms. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted between April and May 2020, using an instrument that included two time points. Time 1 collected retrospective information on the participants’ habits (N = 89; 73% male; mean age = 29.01) prior to confinement and Time 2 collected the same information during the confinement. Sociodemographic data were collected, as well as the frequency of substance use, cannabis use patterns, sources of cannabis, perceived availability of drugs and cannabis price, and the Marijuana Motives Measure questionnaire and the Cannabis Withdrawal Scale were used. Results showed a decrease in both cannabis use and consumption due to enhancement and social motives. All reported sources of cannabis experienced a reduction except for the Internet, which experienced a significant increase. There was a positive correlation between withdrawal symptoms and coping motives before and during the lockdown. These findings will allow professionals to better develop both prevention and intervention strategies.
Collapse
|
52
|
Fedorova EV, Wong CF, Conn BM, Ataiants J, Iverson E, Lankenau SE. COVID-19’s Impact on Substance Use and Well-Being of Younger Adult Cannabis Users in California: A Mixed Methods Inquiry. JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 2021; 52:207-224. [PMID: 35382397 PMCID: PMC8919106 DOI: 10.1177/00220426211052673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Few qualitative studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on cannabis and alcohol use, and overall well-being among cannabis users. Cannabis users (aged 26-32) were surveyed quantitatively (n=158) and interviewed qualitatively (n=29) in April 2020–May 2021 in Los Angeles. 63.3% of the quantitative sample reported increasing use of either cannabis (29.1%) or alcohol (15.2%) or both (19.0%) following the COVID-19 outbreak. Qualitative data revealed that increases in cannabis and alcohol use were largely attributed to changes in employment and staying at home resulting in fewer impediments and boredom. Themes of loneliness and utilization of various coping strategies were more pronounced among those who increased cannabis and/or alcohol use. For some, increases in cannabis/alcohol use were temporary until participants adjusted to “a new normal” or embraced more adaptive coping strategies. Results suggest monitoring cannabis/alcohol use trends and identifying coping strategies to reduce the pandemic’s impact on substance use and mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina V. Fedorova
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Carolyn F. Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Research on Children, Youth, & Families, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bridgid M. Conn
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Janna Ataiants
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ellen Iverson
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Stephen E. Lankenau
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Paland N, Pechkovsky A, Aswad M, Hamza H, Popov T, Shahar E, Louria-Hayon I. The Immunopathology of COVID-19 and the Cannabis Paradigm. Front Immunol 2021; 12:631233. [PMID: 33643316 PMCID: PMC7907157 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.631233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-19 caused by the novel RNA betacoronavirus SARS-CoV2 has first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and since then developed into a worldwide pandemic with >99 million people afflicted and >2.1 million fatal outcomes as of 24th January 2021. SARS-CoV2 targets the lower respiratory tract system leading to pneumonia with fever, cough, and dyspnea. Most patients develop only mild symptoms. However, a certain percentage develop severe symptoms with dyspnea, hypoxia, and lung involvement which can further progress to a critical stage where respiratory support due to respiratory failure is required. Most of the COVID-19 symptoms are related to hyperinflammation as seen in cytokine release syndrome and it is believed that fatalities are due to a COVID-19 related cytokine storm. Treatments with anti-inflammatory or anti-viral drugs are still in clinical trials or could not reduce mortality. This makes it necessary to develop novel anti-inflammatory therapies. Recently, the therapeutic potential of phytocannabinoids, the unique active compounds of the cannabis plant, has been discovered in the area of immunology. Phytocannabinoids are a group of terpenophenolic compounds which biological functions are conveyed by their interactions with the endocannabinoid system in humans. Here, we explore the anti-inflammatory function of cannabinoids in relation to inflammatory events that happen during severe COVID-19 disease, and how cannabinoids might help to prevent the progression from mild to severe disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Paland
- Medical Cannabis Research and Innovation Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Antonina Pechkovsky
- Medical Cannabis Research and Innovation Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Miran Aswad
- Medical Cannabis Research and Innovation Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Haya Hamza
- Medical Cannabis Research and Innovation Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tania Popov
- Medical Cannabis Research and Innovation Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eduardo Shahar
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Igal Louria-Hayon
- Medical Cannabis Research and Innovation Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
- Clinical Research Institute at Rambam (CRIR), Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Hematology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Scherbaum N, Bonnet U, Hafermann H, Schifano F, Bender S, Grigoleit T, Kuhn J, Nyhuis P, Preuss UW, Reymann G, Schneider U, Shibata J, Specka M. Availability of Illegal Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Western Germany. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:648273. [PMID: 33967857 PMCID: PMC8102785 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.648273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In response to the COVID-19-pandemic, a lockdown was established in the middle of March 2020 by the German Federal Government resulting in drastic reduction of private and professional traveling in and out of Germany with a reduction of social contacts in public areas. Research Questions: We seek evidence on whether the lockdown has led to a reduced availability of illegal drugs and whether subjects with substance-related problems tried to cope with possible drug availability issues by increasingly obtaining drugs via the internet, replacing their preferred illegal drug with novel psychoactive substances, including new synthetic opioids (NSO), and/or by seeking drug treatment. Methods: A questionnaire was anonymously filled in by subjects with substance-related disorders, typically attending low-threshold settings, drug consumption facilities, and inpatient detoxification wards from a range of locations in the Western part of Germany. Participants had to both identify their main drug of abuse and to answer questions regarding its availability, price, quality, and routes of acquisition. Results: Data were obtained from 362 participants. The most frequent main substances of abuse were cannabis (n = 109), heroin (n = 103), and cocaine (n = 75). A minority of participants reported decreased availability (8.4%), increased price (14.4%), or decreased quality (28.3%) of their main drug. About 81% reported no change in their drug consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown. A shift to the use of novel psychoactive substances including NSO were reported only by single subjects. Only 1-2% of the participants obtained their main drug via the web. Discussion: Present findings may suggest that recent pandemic-related imposed restrictions may have not been able to substantially influence either acquisition or consumption of drugs within the context of polydrug users (including opiates) attending a range of addiction services in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Scherbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Udo Bonnet
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatische Medizin, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Castrop-Rauxel, Castrop-Rauxel, Germany
| | - Henning Hafermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Fabrizio Schifano
- Psychopharmacology, Substance Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Bender
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, LWL-Klinik Marsberg, Marsberg, Germany
| | - Torsten Grigoleit
- Abteilung für Abhängigkeitserkrankungen, LVR-Klinik Langenfeld, Langenfeld, Germany
| | - Jens Kuhn
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Johanniter Krankenhaus Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Nyhuis
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, St. Marien Hospital Eickel, Herne, Germany
| | - Ulrich W Preuss
- Vitos-Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Herborn, Germany
| | | | - Udo Schneider
- Medizinisches Zentrum für Seelische Gesundheit, Krankenhaus Lübbecke-Rahden, Lübbecke, Germany
| | - Jo Shibata
- Substitution Outpatient Clinic, Health Department of the City of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Specka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|