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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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2
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Oliván-Blázquez B, Lear-Claveras A, Samper-Pardo M, León-Herrera S, Magallón-Botaya R. Worsening of alcohol abuse disorder in a Spanish population during the first twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors: retrospective, ecological and community study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:504. [PMID: 37438682 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyse: (1) Changes in clinical parameters and in the use of social healthcare resources by patients with alcohol abuse disorder between the six months prior to the start of the pandemic and the first year of the pandemic. (2) The factors related to a worsening of clinical parameters among patients with alcohol abuse disorder. METHODS A retrospective and observational study of a population who have been diagnosed with alcohol abuse disorders according to their primary health care (PHC) electronic medical records was performed. The total sample was made up of 11,384 patients. The variables (sociodemographic variables, chronic comorbidities, analytical parameters related to alcohol abuse disorder, COVID-19 infection, and use of healthcare resources) were collected in three different time periods: (i) six months before the onset of the strict lockdown, (ii) six months following the end of lockdown and (iii) from six to twelve months after the end of lockdown. Paired Student's T-test and a multivariate logistic regression were performed. RESULTS Along the first year after the onset of the pandemic, between 44% and 54% of the patients suffered a decline in every clinical parameter. The number of PHC nursing, GP visits and social worker visits reduced significantly. As regards the associated factors related to deterioration of alcohol abuse disorder, being younger than 40 years old, having an income of over 18,000 euros/year and not having visited the social worker were associated with a worsening of the disorder. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the impact of COVID-19 on this group has been high, and the social care offered to these patients plays a significant role in minimising the repercussions of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez
- Aragonese Research Group in Primary Care (Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria/GAIAP), Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, 08007, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50.009, Spain
| | - Ana Lear-Claveras
- Aragonese Research Group in Primary Care (Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria/GAIAP), Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mario Samper-Pardo
- Aragonese Research Group in Primary Care (Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria/GAIAP), Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Sandra León-Herrera
- Aragonese Research Group in Primary Care (Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria/GAIAP), Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50.009, Spain
| | - Rosa Magallón-Botaya
- Aragonese Research Group in Primary Care (Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria/GAIAP), Institute for Health Research Aragon (IISAragon), Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, 08007, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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3
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Marrone M, Pititto F, Stellacci A, Nicolì S, Buongiorno L, De Luca BP, Aventaggiato L, Strisciullo G, Solarino B, Benevento M. Alcohol and Drug Consumption among Drivers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:897-905. [PMID: 37232706 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13050068] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic might have changed recreational habits. In this study, the results of toxicological tests for alcohol and drugs in blood were compared among drivers stopped at roadside checks in the periods before (1 January 2018 to 8 March 2020) and after the lockdown measures (9 March 2020 to 31 December 2021). A total of 123 (20.7%) subjects had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit for driving of 0.5 g/l, 21 (3.9%) subjects tested positive for cocaine, and 29 (5.4%) subjects positive for cannabis. In the COVID-19 period, the mean blood alcohol level was significantly higher than in the previous period. Cannabis use, which was more frequent among younger subjects, was statistically associated with cocaine use. There has also been a quantitative increase in alcohol levels in the population with values above the legal limits, indicative of greater use of alcohol in the population predisposed to its intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricla Marrone
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Fortunato Pititto
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Stellacci
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Simona Nicolì
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Luigi Buongiorno
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Benedetta Pia De Luca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Aventaggiato
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Strisciullo
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Biagio Solarino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Benevento
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
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Sara R. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol and tobacco consumption: Evidence from Peru. Soc Sci Med 2023; 325:115890. [PMID: 37087851 PMCID: PMC10088362 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced dramatic adversities for public health around the world, especially in low and middle-income countries. While research has shown the pandemic to have direct effects on a variety of major economic and health crises, its impact on health-related behaviors is not clear. In this paper, I examine how exposure to the pandemic affects alcohol use and smoking in Peru, which experienced one of the highest COVID-related death rates albeit implementing one of the strictest lockdown policies in the world. I find that post pandemic consumption of alcohol and smoking in the last 30 days decreases by 41.3% and 44.1% respectively when compared to pre-pandemic rates. I also conclude that the intensity of engaging in these behaviors change such that the frequency of consuming alcohol in the last 30 days, binge drinking and the probability of smoking daily falls. While drinking behavior returns to pre-pandemic levels, the negative effect on smoking weakens but remains for almost two years preceding the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raisa Sara
- Department of Economics and International Business, Sam Houston State University, 232 Smith-Hutson Business Building, Huntsville, TX, 77341, USA.
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5
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Villette PA, Lyonnard O, Trehu C, Barais M, Le Goff D, Le Floch B, Dany A, Guillou Landreat M. Changes in Alcohol Consumption after 1 Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Region of France. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15049. [PMID: 36429768 PMCID: PMC9690663 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is conflicting evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic changed patterns of alcohol consumption. While some studies have suggested that alcohol consumption decreased at the beginning of the pandemic, there are limited data for a longer period. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in alcohol consumption 1 year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in France, and to identify vulnerable subgroups in a French adult population. METHODS This was a single-center, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Self-reported changes in alcohol consumption were collected from 2491 respondents in a survey carried out in western Brittany from 18 January to 9 March 2021. RESULTS Of respondents, 27.64% reported that they had increased their alcohol consumption, 14.7% had decreased, 3.94% had ceased, and 53.72% reported no change in their alcohol consumption. Increased alcohol use was associated with male gender, age 26 to 44 years, living with a family, not being a health professional, having had a physical or psychological health problem during lockdowns, smoking tobacco, and using cannabis. Reduced alcohol use or cessation was associated with male gender, age 18 to 25 years, living in Brest, living alone, and using cannabis. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of people increased their alcohol consumption in France, even outside lockdowns. These results should encourage health professionals and public authorities to implement more specific prevention measures to limit the risks associated with alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olga Lyonnard
- Medicine Faculty, University of Bretagne Occidentale, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Camille Trehu
- Medicine Faculty, University of Bretagne Occidentale, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Marie Barais
- ER 7479 SPURBO, Department of General Practice, University of Western Brittany, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Delphine Le Goff
- ER 7479 SPURBO, Department of General Practice, University of Western Brittany, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Bernard Le Floch
- ER 7479 SPURBO, Department of General Practice, University of Western Brittany, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Antoine Dany
- ER 7479 SPURBO, Department of General Practice, University of Western Brittany, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Morgane Guillou Landreat
- ER 7479 SPURBO, Department of General Practice, University of Western Brittany, 29200 Brest, France
- Addictology Liaison Department, University Hospital of Brest, Bd Tanguy Prigent, 29200 Brest, France
- HUGOPSY Network, 29200 Brest, France
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6
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Kilian C, O'Donnell A, Potapova N, López‐Pelayo H, Schulte B, Miquel L, Paniello Castillo B, Schmidt CS, Gual A, Rehm J, Manthey J. Changes in alcohol use during the
COVID
‐19 pandemic in Europe: A meta‐analysis of observational studies. Drug Alcohol Rev 2022; 41:918-931. [PMID: 35187739 PMCID: PMC9111882 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Issues Numerous studies have examined the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on alcohol use changes in Europe, with concerns raised regarding increased use and related harms. Approach We synthesised observational studies published between 1 January 2020 and 31 September 2021 on self‐reported changes in alcohol use associated with COVID‐19. Electronic databases were searched for studies evaluating individual data from European general and clinical populations. We identified 646 reports, of which 56 general population studies were suitable for random‐effects meta‐analyses of proportional differences in alcohol use changes. Variations by time, sub‐region and study quality were assessed in subsequent meta‐regressions. Additional 16 reports identified were summarised narratively. Key Findings Compiling reports measuring changes in overall alcohol use, slightly more individuals indicated a decrease than an increase in their alcohol use during the pandemic [3.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00–7.6%]. Decreases were also reported more often than increases in drinking frequency (8.0%, 95% CI 2.7–13.2%), quantity consumed (12.2%, 95% CI 8.3–16.2%) and heavy episodic drinking (17.7%, 95% CI 13.6–21.8%). Among people with pre‐existing high drinking levels/alcohol use disorder, high‐level drinking patterns appear to have solidified or intensified. Implications Pandemic‐related changes in alcohol use may be associated with pre‐pandemic drinking levels. Increases among high‐risk alcohol users are concerning, suggesting a need for ongoing monitoring and support from relevant health‐care services. Conclusion Our findings suggest that more people reduced their alcohol use in Europe than increased it since the onset of the pandemic. However high‐quality studies examining specific change mechanisms at the population level are lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Kilian
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Technische Universität Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Amy O'Donnell
- Population Health Sciences Institute Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UK
| | - Nina Potapova
- Grup de Recerca en Addiccions Clinic Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Unitat Conductes Addictives Hospital Clínic Barcelona Spain
| | - Hugo López‐Pelayo
- Grup de Recerca en Addiccions Clinic Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Unitat Conductes Addictives Hospital Clínic Barcelona Spain
| | - Bernd Schulte
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research University Medical Center Hamburg‐Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry Hamburg Germany
| | - Laia Miquel
- Grup de Recerca en Addiccions Clinic Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Unitat Conductes Addictives Hospital Clínic Barcelona Spain
| | - Blanca Paniello Castillo
- Grup de Recerca en Addiccions Clinic Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Unitat Conductes Addictives Hospital Clínic Barcelona Spain
- Department of Global Public Health (student) Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden
| | - Christiane Sybille Schmidt
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research University Medical Center Hamburg‐Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry Hamburg Germany
| | - Antoni Gual
- Grup de Recerca en Addiccions Clinic Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Unitat Conductes Addictives Hospital Clínic Barcelona Spain
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Technische Universität Dresden Dresden Germany
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research University Medical Center Hamburg‐Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry Hamburg Germany
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Toronto Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto Toronto Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building Toronto Canada
| | - Jakob Manthey
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Technische Universität Dresden Dresden Germany
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research University Medical Center Hamburg‐Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry Hamburg Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany
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7
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Lear-Claveras A, González-Álvarez B, Couso-Viana S, Clavería A, Oliván-Blázquez B. Analysis of Clinical Parameters, Drug Consumption and Use of Health Resources in a Southern European Population with Alcohol Abuse Disorder during COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031358. [PMID: 35162380 PMCID: PMC8835241 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The disruption in healthcare attention to people with alcohol dependence, along with psychological decompensation as a consequence of lockdown derived from the COVID-19 pandemic could have a negative impact on people who suffer from alcohol abuse disorder. Observational real world data pre-post study included 9966 men aged >16 years registered as having the diagnosis of alcohol abuse disorder in the electronic medical records (EMR) of the Aragon Regional Health Service (Spain). Clinical (Glutamate-oxaloacetate -GOT-, Glutamate pyruvate -GPT-, creatinine, glomerular filtration, systolic blood pressure -SBP-, diastolic blood pressure -DBP-, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and body mass index -BMI-), pharmacological (dose per inhabitant per day, DHD, of drugs used in addictive disorders, benzodiazepines and antidepressants) and health resource use variables (primary and specialized care) were considered. A Student's t-test for matched samples was performed to analyze the changes in clinical variables between alcohol abuse disorder patients with and without COVID-19. Only creatinine and LDL showed a significant but clinically irrelevant change six months after the end of the strict lockdown. The total number of DHDs for all drugs included in the study (except for benzodiazepines), decreased. In the same way, the use of health services by these patients also decreased. The impact of COVID-19 among this group of patients has been moderate. The reorganization of health and social services after the declaration of the state of alarm in our country made possible the maintenance of care for this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lear-Claveras
- Aragonese Research Group in Primary Care (Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria/GAIAP), Aragon Health Research Institute, 50015 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.L.-C.); (B.O.-B.)
| | | | - Sabela Couso-Viana
- I-Saúde Group, South Galicia Health Research Institute, 36201 Vigo, Spain;
| | - Ana Clavería
- I-Saúde Group, South Galicia Health Research Institute, 36201 Vigo, Spain;
- Vigo Health Area, SERGAS, 36201 Vigo, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez
- Aragonese Research Group in Primary Care (Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria/GAIAP), Aragon Health Research Institute, 50015 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.L.-C.); (B.O.-B.)
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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8
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Driving under the influence of alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 329:111076. [PMID: 34736051 PMCID: PMC8539202 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pattern of alcohol use in drivers. MATERIALS and methods. At the National Institute of Legal Medicine from Bucharest, we performed a retrospective study on toxicology reports between January 1st, 2019 and December 31st, 2020. Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) was tested using Dräger breathalyzers by police units at the scene, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was evaluated using headspace gas chromatography. Most drivers gave two blood samples, separated by a one-hour interval, case in which they could request a retrograde extrapolation of the BAC at the time when they were stopped in traffic. RESULTS The distribution of the number of cases depending on the month showed a sharp decline in the first six months of the lockdown, with a slow upward trend afterward. Mean overall values for BrAC were 0.49 +/- 0.40 mg/L, for 1st sample BAC - 1.15 +/- 0.99 g/L and for 2nd sample BAC - 1.29 +/- 0.81 g/L. Mean values obtained for BrAC were 0.48 +/- 0.39 mg/L before the pandemic and 0.52 +/- 0.43 mg/L during the pandemic. The increase was similar in absolute numbers in both male and female drivers (0.03 versus 0.04 mg/L respectively for BrAC and 0.02 g/L for both genders for 1st sample BAC). However, the percentage increase was significantly higher in women. There were 253 cases in which BrAC had values between 0.01 and 0.05, of which 138 occurred before the pandemic and 115 during the pandemic, the increase being highly statistically significant. The percentage of drivers with BAC levels below and above 0.8 g/L (the threshold value for which DUI is a felony in Romania) were similar before and during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS During the lockdown, the number of alcohol tests in traffic has decreased significantly. This reduction was not associated with statistically significant changes in BrAC or BAC. We have seen a substantial increase in the number of minimally elevated BrAC and negative BAC cases, changes that could be caused by an increased use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
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Merlo A, Severeijns NR, Benson S, Scholey A, Garssen J, Bruce G, Verster JC. Mood and Changes in Alcohol Consumption in Young Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Model Explaining Associations with Perceived Immune Fitness and Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910028. [PMID: 34639330 PMCID: PMC8508165 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown on mood states, stress, alcohol consumption and perceived immune fitness in a Dutch sample. Analysis included a subsample from the “Corona Lockdown: how fit are you?” (CLOFIT) study, comprising N = 761 participants who reported consuming alcohol in 2020. Results show that, compared to pre-lockdown, the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020) was associated with experiencing poorer mood (e.g., anxiety, depression, loneliness, fatigue) and increased stress levels. Among younger participants (18 to 35 years old), a significant decrease in weekly alcohol consumption was found during COVID-19 lockdown, which was not significant in older individuals. For the younger age cohort (18 to 35 years old), increased stress significantly correlated to increased weekly alcohol consumption (r = 0.163, p = 0.003), which in turn, correlated significantly to reporting a poorer perceived immune fitness (r = −0.165, p = 0.002). Poorer perceived immune fitness correlated significantly with increases in the presence and severity of COVID-19 symptoms (r = −0.313, p < 0.001, and r = −0.325, p < 0.001, respectively). The data provides evidence for significant relationships between changes in mood, stress and alcohol consumption during COVID-19 lockdown, and supports a model that links these changes to perceived immune fitness and susceptibility to experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Merlo
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (A.M.); (N.R.S.); (J.G.)
| | - Noortje R Severeijns
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (A.M.); (N.R.S.); (J.G.)
| | - Sarah Benson
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia; (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Andrew Scholey
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia; (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Johan Garssen
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (A.M.); (N.R.S.); (J.G.)
| | - Gillian Bruce
- Division of Psychology and Social Work, School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK;
| | - Joris C Verster
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CG Utrecht, The Netherlands; (A.M.); (N.R.S.); (J.G.)
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia; (S.B.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Effects of the COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking in College Students: A Longitudinal Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18189822. [PMID: 34574745 PMCID: PMC8464960 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
To "flatten the curve" of COVID-19 contagion, several countries ordered lockdowns amid the pandemic along with indications on social distancing. These social isolation measures could potentially bring alterations to healthy behavior, including to alcohol consumption. However, there is hardly any scientific evidence of the impact of such measures on alcohol consumption and binge drinking (BD) among young adults, and how they relate to alcohol craving, stress, anxiety, and depression levels. We addressed these questions by conducting a longitudinal study with 146 Portuguese college students-regular binge drinkers (regular BDs), infrequent binge drinkers (infrequent BDs) and non-binge drinkers (non-BDs)-in three moments: before the pandemic (Pre-Lockdown), during lockdown (Lockdown) and 6 months after (Post-Lockdown). Results revealed that regular BDs decreased alcohol use during Lockdown, a change in behavior that was even greater during Post-Lockdown, when regular BDs displayed similar levels of consumption to infrequent/non-BDs. Additionally, alcohol craving and living with friends were predictive of alcohol use during Lockdown, whereas stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms did not contribute to explain changes in drinking behavior. Collectively, the results suggest that BD in young Portuguese college students can be stopped when the contexts in which alcohol intake usually takes place are suppressed, which may have important implications for future prevention and intervention strategies.
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