Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and Resilience
Background: Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use patterns have altered as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions. This study aimed to: (i) determine the impact of the pandemic on patterns of AOD use among individuals seeking treatment, (ii) identify which mental health and resilien...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211061746 |
| _version_ | 1818461471325028352 |
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| author | Molly Carlyle Janni Leung Zoe C. Walter Jennifer Juckel Caroline Salom Catherine A. Quinn Lily Davidson Rhiannon Ellem Grace Newland Leanne Hides |
| author_facet | Molly Carlyle Janni Leung Zoe C. Walter Jennifer Juckel Caroline Salom Catherine A. Quinn Lily Davidson Rhiannon Ellem Grace Newland Leanne Hides |
| author_sort | Molly Carlyle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use patterns have altered as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions. This study aimed to: (i) determine the impact of the pandemic on patterns of AOD use among individuals seeking treatment, (ii) identify which mental health and resilience factors were associated with changes in patterns of AOD use and (iii) evaluate changes in the contextual factors (eg, motivations) associated with use. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were completed by clients (n = 325) who had sought AOD treatment from January 2020 onwards. We measured quantity and frequency of AOD use now compared to before the pandemic, mental health (depression, anxiety, trauma exposure), resilience and contextual factors related to AOD use. Results: Quantity of tobacco and cannabis use increased post-pandemic, while methamphetamine and alcohol did not change. Depression was associated with more frequent alcohol use now compared to before the pandemic, while anxiety and lower resilience were associated with less frequent cannabis use now. Lower resilience was associated changes in methamphetamine use. Depression was associated with using more frequently for enjoyment and to alleviate loneliness following the pandemic, and anxiety was associated with using earlier in the day and to alleviate boredom. Conclusions: The pandemic has led to increased frequency of AOD use for a subset of individuals seeking treatment. Depression, anxiety and resilience are important factors associated with altered AOD use, and changes in the motivations and control surrounding use. Special consideration of this should be considered during AOD treatment through the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:46:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f508cb17169f40398f418ee16ad70f40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2218 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:46:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment |
| spelling | doaj.art-f508cb17169f40398f418ee16ad70f402022-12-21T22:43:22ZengSAGE PublishingSubstance Abuse: Research and Treatment1178-22182021-12-011510.1177/11782218211061746Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and ResilienceMolly Carlyle0Janni Leung1Zoe C. Walter2Jennifer Juckel3Caroline Salom4Catherine A. Quinn5Lily Davidson6Rhiannon Ellem7Grace Newland8Leanne Hides9Lives Lived Well Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaNational Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaLives Lived Well Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaInstitute for Social Science Research, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaLives Lived Well Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaLives Lived Well Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaLives Lived Well Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaLives Lived Well Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaNational Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaBackground: Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use patterns have altered as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions. This study aimed to: (i) determine the impact of the pandemic on patterns of AOD use among individuals seeking treatment, (ii) identify which mental health and resilience factors were associated with changes in patterns of AOD use and (iii) evaluate changes in the contextual factors (eg, motivations) associated with use. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were completed by clients (n = 325) who had sought AOD treatment from January 2020 onwards. We measured quantity and frequency of AOD use now compared to before the pandemic, mental health (depression, anxiety, trauma exposure), resilience and contextual factors related to AOD use. Results: Quantity of tobacco and cannabis use increased post-pandemic, while methamphetamine and alcohol did not change. Depression was associated with more frequent alcohol use now compared to before the pandemic, while anxiety and lower resilience were associated with less frequent cannabis use now. Lower resilience was associated changes in methamphetamine use. Depression was associated with using more frequently for enjoyment and to alleviate loneliness following the pandemic, and anxiety was associated with using earlier in the day and to alleviate boredom. Conclusions: The pandemic has led to increased frequency of AOD use for a subset of individuals seeking treatment. Depression, anxiety and resilience are important factors associated with altered AOD use, and changes in the motivations and control surrounding use. Special consideration of this should be considered during AOD treatment through the pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211061746 |
| spellingShingle | Molly Carlyle Janni Leung Zoe C. Walter Jennifer Juckel Caroline Salom Catherine A. Quinn Lily Davidson Rhiannon Ellem Grace Newland Leanne Hides Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and Resilience Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment |
| title | Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and Resilience |
| title_full | Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and Resilience |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and Resilience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and Resilience |
| title_short | Changes in Substance Use Among People Seeking Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes and Resilience |
| title_sort | changes in substance use among people seeking alcohol and other drug treatment during the covid 19 pandemic evaluating mental health outcomes and resilience |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211061746 |
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