Jakob Manthey1,2,3, Carolin Kilian4, Sinclair Carr5, Miroslav Bartak6, Kim Bloomfield7,8,9,10, Fleur Braddick11,12, Antoni Gual11,12,13, Maria Neufeld4,14,15, Amy O'Donnell16, Benjamin Petruzelka6, Vladimir Rogalewicz6, Ingeborg Rossow17, Bernd Schulte5, Jürgen Rehm4,5,15,18,19,20,21,22. 1. Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany. jakob.manthey@tu-dresden.de. 2. Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. jakob.manthey@tu-dresden.de. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstraße 10, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. jakob.manthey@tu-dresden.de. 4. Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany. 5. Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. 6. First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital Prague, Department of Addiction, Charles University, Apolinarska 4, 128 00, Prague 2, Czech Republic. 7. Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University, Tuborgvej 160, 2400, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark. 8. Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. 9. Health Promotion Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Vej 9, DK-6700, Esbjerg, Denmark. 10. Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound Street, Suite 450, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA. 11. Clínic Foundation for Biomedical Research (FCRB), 08036, Barcelona, Spain. 12. Clinical Addictions Research Group (GRAC-GRE) Psychiatry Department, Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. 13. Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036, Barcelona, Spain. 14. WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office) 9 Leontyevsky Pereulok, Moscow, Russian Federation, 125009. 15. Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S1, Canada. 16. Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. 17. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Dept of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, N-0213, Oslo, Norway. 18. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1P8, Canada. 19. Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Room 2374, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada. 20. Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3M1, Canada. 21. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1R8, Canada. 22. I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Trubetskaya Street 8, b. 2, Moscow, Russian Federation, 119991.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 reached Europe in early 2020 and disrupted the private and public life of its citizens, with potential implications for substance use. The objective of this study was to describe possible changes in substance use in the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Europe. METHODS: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional online survey of 36,538 adult substance users from 21 European countries conducted between April 24 and July 22 of 2020. Self-perceived changes in substance use were measured by asking respondents whether their use had decreased (slightly or substantially), increased (slightly or substantially), or not changed during the past month. The survey covered alcohol (frequency, quantity, and heavy episodic drinking occasions), tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drug use. Sample weighted data were descriptively analysed and compared across substances. RESULTS: Across all countries, use of all substances remained unchanged for around half of the respondents, while the remainder reported either a decrease or increase in their substance use. For alcohol use, overall, a larger proportion of respondents indicated a decrease than those reporting an increase. In contrast, more respondents reported increases in their tobacco and cannabis use during the previous month compared to those reporting decreased use. No distinct direction of change was reported for other substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest changes in use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis during the initial months of the pandemic in several European countries. This study offers initial insights into changes in substance use. Other data sources, such as sales statistics, should be used to corroborate these preliminary findings.
BACKGROUND:SARS-CoV-2 reached Europe in early 2020 and disrupted the private and public life of its citizens, with potential implications for substance use. The objective of this study was to describe possible changes in substance use in the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Europe. METHODS: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional online survey of 36,538 adult substance users from 21 European countries conducted between April 24 and July 22 of 2020. Self-perceived changes in substance use were measured by asking respondents whether their use had decreased (slightly or substantially), increased (slightly or substantially), or not changed during the past month. The survey covered alcohol (frequency, quantity, and heavy episodic drinking occasions), tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drug use. Sample weighted data were descriptively analysed and compared across substances. RESULTS: Across all countries, use of all substances remained unchanged for around half of the respondents, while the remainder reported either a decrease or increase in their substance use. For alcohol use, overall, a larger proportion of respondents indicated a decrease than those reporting an increase. In contrast, more respondents reported increases in their tobacco and cannabis use during the previous month compared to those reporting decreased use. No distinct direction of change was reported for other substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest changes in use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis during the initial months of the pandemic in several European countries. This study offers initial insights into changes in substance use. Other data sources, such as sales statistics, should be used to corroborate these preliminary findings.
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