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Ou C, Corby K, Booth K, Ou HH. Parental Patterns of Alcohol Consumption During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review. Interact J Med Res 2024; 13:e48339. [PMID: 39186759 DOI: 10.2196/48339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic led to public health restrictions that impacted the lives of people across the globe. Parents were particularly burdened with balancing multiple responsibilities, such as working from home while caring for and educating their children. Alcohol use among parents is an area that warrants further exploration. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate patterns of parental alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on relative changes in the frequency and quantity of alcohol use compared to prepandemic use, nonparent adult samples, or both. METHODS A scoping review informed by the methodology of Arksey and O'Malley explored patterns of parental alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Searches were conducted in CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Search terms were created using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework of Population, Concept, and Context, with the population being parents and the concept being alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS The database search yielded 3568 articles, which were screened for eligibility. Of the 3568 articles, 40 (1.12%) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the scoping review. Findings indicated the following: (1) having children at home was a factor associated with parental patterns of alcohol use; (2) mixed findings regarding gender-related patterns of alcohol consumption; and (3) linkages between parental patterns of alcohol use and mental health symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review revealed heterogeneous patterns in parental alcohol use across sociocultural contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the known harms of alcohol use, it is worthwhile for clinicians to assess parental drinking patterns and initiate conversations regarding moderation in alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Ou
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Kathryn Corby
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Kelsey Booth
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Hui-Hui Ou
- Library Services, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
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Retat L, Webber L, Jepsen P, Martin A, Cortez-Pinto H, Lazarus JV, Negro F, Mitchyn M, Guzek J, Card-Gowers J, Graff H, Nahon P, Sheron N, Sagi SZ, Buti M. Preventing liver disease with policy measures to tackle alcohol consumption and obesity: The HEPAHEALTH II study. J Hepatol 2024; 80:543-552. [PMID: 38092157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Chronic liver disease (CLD) causes 1.8% of all deaths in Europe, many of them from liver cancer. We estimated the impact of several policy interventions in France, the Netherlands, and Romania. METHODS We used a validated microsimulation model to assess seven different policy scenarios in 2022-2030: a minimum unit price (MUP) of alcohol of €0.70 or €1, a volumetric alcohol tax, a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax, food marketing restrictions, plus two different combinations of these policies compared against current policies (the 'inaction' scenario). RESULTS All policies reduced the burden of CLD and liver cancer. The largest impact was observed for a MUP of €1, which by 2030 would reduce the cumulative incidence of CLD by between 7.1% to 7.3% in France, the Netherlands, and Romania compared with inaction. For liver cancer, the corresponding reductions in cumulative incidence were between 4.8% to 5.8%. Implementing a package containing a MUP of €0.70, a volumetric alcohol tax, and an SSB tax would reduce the cumulative incidence of CLD by between 4.29% to 4.71% and of liver cancer by between 3.47% to 3.95% in France, the Netherlands, and Romania. The total predicted reduction in healthcare costs by 2030 was greatest with the €1 MUP scenario, with a reduction for liver cancer costs of €8.18M and €612.49M in the Netherlands and France, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Policy measures tackling primary risk factors for CLD and liver cancer, such as the implementation of a MUP of €1 and/or a MUP of €0.70 plus SSB tax could markedly reduce the number of Europeans with CLD or liver cancer. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Policymakers must be aware that alcohol and obesity are the two leading risk factors for chronic liver disease and liver cancer in Europe and both are expected to increase in the future if no policy interventions are made. This study assessed the potential of different public health policy measures to mitigate the impact of alcohol consumption and obesity on the general population in three European countries: France, the Netherlands, and Romania. The findings support introducing a €1 minimum unit price for alcohol to reduce the burden of chronic liver disease. In addition, the study shows the importance of targeting multiple drivers of alcohol consumption and obesogenic products simultaneously via a harmonized fiscal policy framework, to complement efforts being made within health systems. These findings should encourage policymakers to introduce such policy measures across Europe to reduce the burden of liver disease. The modeling methods used in this study can assist in structuring similar modeling in other regions to expand on this study's findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter Jepsen
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- Clínica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Centro de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jeffrey V Lazarus
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA
| | - Francesco Negro
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | - Pierre Nahon
- AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Liver Unit, Bobigny; Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nick Sheron
- The Foundation for Liver Research, The Institute of Hepatology, London111 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NT, UK
| | | | - Maria Buti
- Liver Unit, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, and CIBEREHD del Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Barcelona, Spain.
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Mojica-Perez Y, Willoughby B, Anderson-Luxford D, Wilkinson C, Kuntsche E, Callinan S, Ritter A. Exploring the relationship between solitary drinking and living without other adults on alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agae013. [PMID: 38497163 PMCID: PMC10945291 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS The COVID-19 pandemic presents the opportunity to learn about solitary drinking as many people were forced to spend time at home. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between solitary drinking and living without other adults on alcohol consumption. METHODS A longitudinal study with four survey waves (between May and November 2020) obtained seven-day drinking diary data from Australian adults living in New South Wales. In May, a convenience sample of 586 participants (Mage = 35.3, SD = 14.8; 65.3% women) completed the first wave. Participants then completed a survey in June (n = 319, 54.4% response rate), July/August (n = 225, 38.4% response rate), and November (n = 222, 37.9% response rate). Information about alcohol consumption including risky drinking (more than four drinks on one occasion), household structure, solitary drinking, and demographics were collected. We conducted random-effects panel bivariate and multivariable regression analyses predicting the number of standard drinks and risky drinking. RESULTS Participants with solitary drinking occasions consumed more and had more risky drinking occasions than participants with no solitary drinking occasions, which was also found to be the case during lockdown. Living without other adults was associated with less consumption and less risky drinking than living with other adults. However, participants who lived without other adults and had frequent solitary drinking occasions (solitary drinking in >50% drinking occasions) reported more consumption than participants without a solitary drinking occasion. CONCLUSIONS Individuals who consume alcohol alone and live without other adults or spend long periods of time at home may be more at risk of alcohol-related harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Mojica-Perez
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Bree Willoughby
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Dan Anderson-Luxford
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Claire Wilkinson
- Drug Policy Modelling Program, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Emmanuel Kuntsche
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
- Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1088, Hungary
| | - Sarah Callinan
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Alison Ritter
- Drug Policy Modelling Program, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Mangot-Sala L, Smidt N, Liefbroer AC. Work- and mental health-related events and body mass index trajectories during the Covid-19 lockdown. Evidence from the lifelines cohort study in the Netherlands. Int J Obes (Lond) 2024; 48:346-352. [PMID: 38042931 PMCID: PMC10896728 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-023-01421-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to identify heterogeneity in trajectories of body mass index (BMI) during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Moreover, we aimed to investigate whether work- and mental health-related disruptive events experienced during the pandemic, such as job insecurity or depression, were associated with such BMI trajectories. METHODS Longitudinal data from the Lifelines Covid Questionnaire was used (21 waves between April 2020 and July 2021; n = 64,630). Different trajectories were identified using group-based trajectory models. Multinomial regression models were fitted to analyse the main determinants of experiencing changes in BMI during the pandemic. RESULTS Trajectories of increased BMI, and, to a lesser extent also trajectories of decreased BMI, were more common among those who experienced disruptive work-related events (e.g., being laid-off or having a temporary contract) and mental health-related events (e.g., anxiety or depression) during the pandemic. Those experiencing multiple events were particularly likely to show trajectories of increased or decreased BMI. CONCLUSIONS During the Covid-19 pandemic, strong heterogeneity was observed in BMI trajectories. This was partially related to work- and mental health-related events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lluís Mangot-Sala
- Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)-Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), The Hague, the Netherlands.
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Nynke Smidt
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Aart C Liefbroer
- Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)-Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), The Hague, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen (RUG), Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Tran KA, Mangot-Sala L, Liefbroer AC. Understanding trends in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands: the moderating role of gender, age, and living arrangement. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:2267-2277. [PMID: 37278701 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2220654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic and the preventive lockdown measures increased loneliness levels. However, most studies are cross-sectional or rely on a pre-post (pandemic) design. This study relies on multiple observations to analyze the impact of the lockdown on loneliness levels in the Netherlands, and test whether it differed by gender, age, and living arrangement.Methods: Longitudinal data from the Covid-Questionnaire within the Lifelines Cohort Study from the northern Netherlands was used. Data was gathered between March 2020 and July 2021 with a total of 21 waves and 769,526 observations nested in 74,844 individuals. The outcome was a multi-dimensional Loneliness Index. The association between the lockdown period and loneliness levels was estimated using fixed-effects linear regression. Moderation effects were tested by means of two-way interactions.Results: Loneliness levels increased during stricter lockdown periods, and decreased when preventive measures were relaxed. Women and young adults experienced stronger fluctuations in their loneliness levels, whereas living arrangement did not play a notable moderating role.Conclusion: This study calls for special attention to be paid to the public issue of loneliness during periods of lockdown. Women and young adults appear as particularly vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa A Tran
- Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute - KNAW/University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- University College Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lluís Mangot-Sala
- Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute - KNAW/University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Aart C Liefbroer
- Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute - KNAW/University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Meyers JL, McCutcheon VV, Horne-Osipenko KA, Waters LR, Barr P, Chan G, Chorlian DB, Johnson EC, Kuo SIC, Kramer JR, Dick DM, Kuperman S, Kamarajan C, Pandey G, Singman D, de Viteri SSS, Salvatore JE, Bierut LJ, Foroud T, Goate A, Hesselbrock V, Nurnberger J, Plaweck MH, Schuckit MA, Agrawal A, Edenberg HJ, Bucholz KK, Porjesz B. COVID-19 pandemic stressors are associated with reported increases in frequency of drunkenness among individuals with a history of alcohol use disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:311. [PMID: 37803048 PMCID: PMC10558437 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02577-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Some sources report increases in alcohol use have been observed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women. Cross-sectional studies suggest that specific COVID-19-related stressful experiences (e.g., social disconnection) may be driving such increases in the general population. Few studies have explored these topics among individuals with a history of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD), an especially vulnerable population. Drawing on recent data collected by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA; COVID-19 study N = 1651, 62% women, age range: 30-91) in conjunction with AUD history data collected on the sample since 1990, we investigated associations of COVID-19 related stressors and coping activities with changes in drunkenness frequency since the start of the pandemic. Analyses were conducted for those without a history of AUD (N: 645) and three groups of participants with a history of AUD prior to the start of the pandemic: (1) those experiencing AUD symptoms (N: 606), (2) those in remission who were drinking (N: 231), and (3) those in remission who were abstinent (had not consumed alcohol for 5+ years; N: 169). Gender-stratified models were also examined. Exploratory analyses examined the moderating effects of 'problematic alcohol use' polygenic risk scores (PRS) and neural connectivity (i.e., posterior interhemispheric alpha EEG coherence) on associations between COVID-19 stressors and coping activities with changes in the frequency of drunkenness. Increases in drunkenness frequency since the start of the pandemic were higher among those with a lifetime AUD diagnosis experiencing symptoms prior to the start of the pandemic (14% reported increased drunkenness) when compared to those without a history of AUD (5% reported increased drunkenness). Among individuals in remission from AUD prior to the start of the pandemic, rates of increased drunkenness were 10% for those who were drinking pre-pandemic and 4% for those who had previously been abstinent. Across all groups, women reported nominally greater increases in drunkenness frequency when compared with men, although only women experiencing pre-pandemic AUD symptoms reported significantly greater rates of increased drunkenness since the start of the pandemic compared to men in this group (17% of women vs. 5% of men). Among those without a prior history of AUD, associations between COVID-19 risk and protective factors with increases in drunkenness frequency were not observed. Among all groups with a history of AUD (including those with AUD symptoms and those remitted from AUD), perceived stress was associated with increases in drunkenness. Among the remitted-abstinent group, essential worker status was associated with increases in drunkenness. Gender differences in these associations were observed: among women in the remitted-abstinent group, essential worker status, perceived stress, media consumption, and decreased social interactions were associated with increases in drunkenness. Among men in the remitted-drinking group, perceived stress was associated with increases in drunkenness, and increased relationship quality was associated with decreases in drunkenness. Exploratory analyses indicated that associations between family illness or death with increases in drunkenness and increased relationship quality with decreases in drunkenness were more pronounced among the remitted-drinking participants with higher PRS. Associations between family illness or death, media consumption, and economic hardships with increases in drunkenness and healthy coping with decreases in drunkenness were more pronounced among the remitted-abstinent group with lower interhemispheric alpha EEG connectivity. Our results demonstrated that only individuals with pre-pandemic AUD symptoms reported greater increases in drunkenness frequency since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to those without a lifetime history of AUD. This increase was more pronounced among women than men in this group. However, COVID-19-related stressors and coping activities were associated with changes in the frequency of drunkenness among all groups of participants with a prior history of AUD, including those experiencing AUD symptoms, as well as abstinent and non-abstinent participants in remission. Perceived stress, essential worker status, media consumption, social connections (especially for women), and relationship quality (especially for men) are specific areas of focus for designing intervention and prevention strategies aimed at reducing pandemic-related alcohol misuse among this particularly vulnerable group. Interestingly, these associations were not observed for individuals without a prior history of AUD, supporting prior literature that demonstrates that widespread stressors (e.g., pandemics, terrorist attacks) disproportionately impact the mental health and alcohol use of those with a prior history of problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn L Meyers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
| | - Vivia V McCutcheon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Kristina A Horne-Osipenko
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Lawrence R Waters
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Peter Barr
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Grace Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - David B Chorlian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Emma C Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Sally I-Chun Kuo
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - John R Kramer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Danielle M Dick
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Samuel Kuperman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Chella Kamarajan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Gayathri Pandey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Dzov Singman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Stacey Subbie-Saenz de Viteri
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Jessica E Salvatore
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Laura J Bierut
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Tatiana Foroud
- Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Neuroscience, and Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alison Goate
- Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Neuroscience, and Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victor Hesselbrock
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John Nurnberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Martin H Plaweck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Marc A Schuckit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego Medical School, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Howard J Edenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kathleen K Bucholz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Bernice Porjesz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
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When asking 'are you stressed?' is not enough: Hair cortisol, subjective stress, and alcohol use during the first year of the pandemic. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 150:106051. [PMID: 36758329 PMCID: PMC9899354 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an increase in alcohol use in a third of the population worldwide. To date, the literature shows that subjective reports of stress predicted increased alcohol use during the early stages of the pandemic. However, no studies have investigated the effect of physiological stress (via the stress hormone cortisol) on alcohol use during the pandemic. This study aimed to identify the predictive value of cortisol and/or subjective stress on alcohol use during the first year of the pandemic. Every three months, between June 2020 and March 2021, 79 healthy adults (19-54 years old) answered online questionnaires assessing alcohol use. In May 2020, participants reported pre-pandemic alcohol use, while in June 2020, participants reported current alcohol use, subjective stress measures, and provided a 6 cm hair sample. The latter allowed us to quantify the cumulative levels of cortisol produced in the three months prior to and following the start of the mandatory lockdown measures in March 2020 in Quebec, Canada. A relative change in hair cortisol was computed to quantify the physiological stress response. While controlling for sex, age, and psychiatric diagnoses, multilevel linear regressions revealed that alcohol use increased only among people with concomitant high subjective stress and elevated hair cortisol concentrations. Moreover, this increased alcohol use remained elevated one year later. This study documents the importance of simultaneously considering stress biomarkers and subjective stress to identify people at risk of increasing their alcohol use during major stressful life events.
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Maphisa Maphisa J, Ndlovu TBH. Changes in hazardous drinking pre, during and post 70-day alcohol sales ban during COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 114:103992. [PMID: 36878142 PMCID: PMC9970935 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.103992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Absolute alcohol sales bans instituted in countries like Botswana provide a rare opportunity for a quasi-natural experiment on how such strict policies influence users' behaviours during the COVID pandemic and beyond. From March 2020 to September 2021, Botswana banned the sales of alcohol on four separate occasions spanning a cumulative 225 days. We studied changes in retrospectively recalled hazardous drinking following the longest and last alcohol sales ban in Botswana. METHODS This online cross-sectional study, carried out following a 70-day alcohol sales ban in 2021, comprised a convenience sample of 1326 adults who completed the AUDIT-C and had to recall their alcohol use during three points: pre alcohol sale ban (before 28th June 2021), during alcohol sales ban (28th June 2021 to 5th September 2021), and post alcohol sales ban (after 5th September 2021). RESULTS The prevalence of hazardous drinking (defined by an AUDIT-C score of 3 or 4 for females and males, respectively) prior, during and post the alcohol sales ban was 52.6% (95%CI=49.8-55.3), 33.9% (95%CI=31.3-36.5), and 43.1% (95%CI=40.4-45.8), respectively. CONCLUSION The findings from this study showed that reduced alcohol availability by way of the fourth alcohol sales ban was associated with reductions in self-reported hazardous drinking, albeit at a lesser degree compared to during an earlier sales ban.
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Aslam A, Kwo PY. Epidemiology and Disease Burden of Alcohol Associated Liver Disease. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2023; 13:88-102. [PMID: 36647400 PMCID: PMC9840073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Consumption of alcohol in excess leads to substantial medical, economic, and societal burdens. Approximately 5.3% of all global deaths may be attributed to alcohol consumption. Moreover, the burden of alcohol associated liver disease (ALD) accounts for 5.1% of all disease and injury worldwide. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects men more than women globally with significant years of life loss to disability in low, middle and well-developed countries. Precise data on global estimates of alcohol related steatosis, alcohol related hepatitis, and alcohol related cirrhosis have been challenging to obtain. In the United States (US), alcohol related steatosis has been estimated at 4.3% based on NHANES data which has remained stable over 14 years. However, alcohol-related fibrotic liver disease has increased over the same period. In those with AUD, the prevalence of alcohol related hepatitis has been estimated at 10-35%. Globally, the prevalence of alcohol-associated cirrhosis has been estimated at 23.6 million individuals for compensated cirrhosis and 2.46 million for those with decompensated cirrhosis. The contribution of ALD to global mortality and disease burden of liver related deaths is substantial. In 2016 liver disease related to AUD contributed to 50% of the estimated liver disease deaths for age groups 15 years and above. Data from the US report high cost burdens associated with those admitted with alcohol-related liver complications. Finally, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with marked increase in alcohol consumption worldwide and will likely increase the burden of ALD.
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Key Words
- AAPC, Average annual percentage change
- ABIC, Age, Serum bilirubin, INR and serum Creatinine
- ABV, Alcohol by volume
- ALD, Alcohol-associated liver disease
- AUD, Alcohol use disorder
- BAC, Blood alcohol concentration
- CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019
- GAHS, Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score
- HE, Hepatic encephalopathy
- HRS, Hepatorenal syndrome
- ICD-10, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition
- MDF, Maddrey's Discriminant Function
- MELD, Model of end-stage liver disease
- MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging
- NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
- NIAAA, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- NIS, National inpatient sample
- NSDUH, Annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- US, United States
- USG, Ultrasonography
- WHO, World Health Organization
- YLD, Years of life lost to disability
- alcohol
- alcohol use disorder
- alcoholic cirrhosis
- alcoholic hepatitis
- alcoholic steatosis
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysha Aslam
- Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway, Pavilion C, 3rd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA
| | - Paul Y. Kwo
- Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway, Pavilion C, 3rd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA
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Babicki M. Use of Alcohol, Cannabinoids, Psychostimulants, and Sedatives before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Students in 40 European Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14879. [PMID: 36429598 PMCID: PMC9690623 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In March 2020, the WHO announced the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been ongoing for over 2 years. To stop the spread of the virus, the governments of many countries decided to introduce reasonable social restrictions that were suitable for pandemic waves. This led to radical changes in people's lives, especially among students, who are very active in society. Before COVID-19, being of student age was associated with the highest frequency of stimulants use. It is important to note that drugs are taken disparately in various areas. Therefore, using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview type of study, the impact of the pandemic on the use of alcohol, cannabinoids, psychostimulants (e.g., amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy) and sedatives (e.g., zolpidem, zopiclone, alprazolam, lorazepam, etc.) was assessed among students from European countries. The questionnaire included single- and multiple-answer questions. The first part concerned sociodemographic questions, while the second included questions about the use of stimulants in the last 3 months prior to participation in the study. Distribution of the survey covered the period from 31 January 2016 to 30 April 2021. A total of 17,594 European students participated in the study. The vast majority of participants were women (80.4%) and students of non-medical universities (77.2%) living in Eastern European countries (86.1%). Of all students, 15,613 (89.6%) reported alcohol drinking, 2538 (14.1%) the use of cannabinoids, 650 (3.6%) psychostimulants, and 2252 (12.5%) sedatives in the past three months. It has been shown that women are far less likely to use alcohol (OR 0.81), psychostimulants (OR 0.44) and cannabinoids (OR 0.49), while they are more likely to use sedatives (OR 1.41). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the consumption of alcohol (OR 0.55) and psychostimulants (OR 0.72) decreased and that of sleep medications increased (OR 1.17). To conclude, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the pattern of stimulants used by students in European countries. The restriction of social interactions contributed to the decrease in the consumption of alcohol and psychostimulants but increased the use of sedatives and the frequency of their use. Women were found to use sedatives more often, while men preferred to drink alcohol and use cannabinoids or psychostimulants. It has also been shown that students of Central and Eastern Europe more often use alcohol and sedatives, while in Southern European countries psychostimulants and cannabinoids are preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Babicki
- Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-141 Wroclaw, Poland
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