Changes in emerging adults' alcohol and cannabis use from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a prospective birth cohort.
Psychol Addict Behav
; 36(7): 786-797, 2022 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1702298
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Prospective research is needed to better-understand changes in substance use from before to during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, among emerging adults (18-25 years), a high-risk group for substance use.METHOD:
N = 1,096 (weighted sample N = 1,080; 54% female) participants enrolled in the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, who completed prepandemic (2019; 21 years) and COVID-19 (mid-March to mid-June 2020) surveys. COVID-19-related and preexisting factors were examined as moderators of change in substance use.RESULTS:
Full sample analyses revealed decreased binge drinking (p < .001, Bayes factor [BF] = 22, Cohen's f² = 0.02), but no changes in alcohol and cannabis use. Stratified analyses revealed emerging adults who reported < monthly use prepandemic increased their alcohol use (p < .001, BF > 150, f² = 0.05) and binge drinking (p < .001, BF = 27, f² = 0.01), but not their cannabis use. Conversely, emerging adults who reported >monthly use prepandemic decreased their binge drinking (p < .001, BF > 150, f² = .12) and cannabis use (p < .001, BF > 150, f² = .06), but did not change their alcohol use frequency. Several factors moderated change in substance use, including employment loss (p = .005, BF > 39, f² = .03) and loneliness (p = .018, BF > 150, f² = .10) during COVID-19.CONCLUSIONS:
Changes in alcohol and cannabis use frequency among emerging adults in the first 3 months of COVID-19 largely differed according to prepandemic substance use, COVID-19-related factors, and preexisting factors. While some youth with preexisting vulnerabilities (e.g., more frequent substance use prepandemic) remained stable or decreased their substance use during COVID-19, emerging adults who experienced employment loss, loneliness, and financial concerns during COVID-19 increased their substance use, highlighting the need for increased supports for vulnerable populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cannabis
/
Substance-Related Disorders
/
Binge Drinking
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Psychol Addict Behav
Journal subject:
Psychology
/
Substance-Related Disorders
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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