TY - JOUR PY - 2022// TI - Impacts of the COVID-19 public health restrictions on substance use, mental health, and psychosocial functioning among individuals with alcohol use disorder JO - American journal of drug and alcohol abuse encompassing all addictive disorders A1 - González-Roz, Alba A1 - Haik, Amanda K. A1 - Rahman, Liah A1 - Todi, Akshiti A. A1 - Kane, Claire A1 - Walji, Alyna A1 - Dickerman, Sarah R. A1 - Scarfe, Molly A1 - Levitt, Emily E. A1 - Belisario, Kyla A1 - Kelly, John F. A1 - Mackillop, James SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with major psychosocial disruptions and there is particular concern for individuals with substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVES: This study characterized the psychosocial and experiential impacts of the pandemic on individuals seeking alcohol use disorder (AUD) recovery, including pandemic impacts on self-reported drinking, heavy drinking, tobacco, cannabis, and stimulant use.

METHODS: Participants were 125 AUD+ individuals (% males: 57.60; M(age) = 49.11, SD = 12.13) reporting on substance use from January 1(st)-24(th) March, 2020 (pre-pandemic) and since the stay-at-home orders commenced, 24(th) March-June 28(th) 2020 (intra-pandemic). Within-subjects changes were examined and a latent profile analysis was performed to identify subgroups differentially impacted by the pandemic.

RESULTS: Large proportions reported psychosocial impacts of COVID-19, but drinking and other substance use did not reveal significant changes. Latent profile analyses revealed two subgroups: Profile 1 (n = 41/125), "Moderately Impacted") and Profile 2 (n = 84/125), "Severely Impacted"). Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the group that was moderately impacted by the pandemic exhibited significantly fewer heavy drinking days (p = .02) during the intra-pandemic period, but no other substance use changes. The group showing severe pandemic impacts did not exhibit changes in alcohol or other drug use but evidenced more severe anxiety and depression (ps < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: We found heterogeneous subtypes of pandemic-related impacts in AUD recovery patients. There is need to provide psychosocial support to this particular population and further monitoring substance use and mental health.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0095-2990 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2022.2134021 ID - ref1 ER -