PMID- 37317983
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20230717
LR  - 20240131
IS  - 1532-2491 (Electronic)
IS  - 1082-6084 (Linking)
VI  - 58
IP  - 11
DP  - 2023
TI  - COVID-19-Related Shifts in Polysubstance Use.
PG  - 1314-1323
LID - 10.1080/10826084.2023.2181034 [doi]
AB  - Background: Big Events, such as economic crises and natural disasters, affect 
      drug use patterns (e.g. Friedman & Rossi, 2015). The COVID-19 pandemic is a Big 
      Event that led to lockdowns, travel restrictions, protocols on businesses, and 
      rules for social engagements across the globe. Studies primarily in Europe and 
      Oceania show that the pandemic impacted the type and amount of substances used 
      (e.g. Winstock et al., 2020). Objectives: This study examines the impact of 
      COVID-19 on substance use using a sample of 257 individuals across 36 states, who 
      engage in polysubstance use. Results: The sample was recruited via DanceSafe, 
      Inc.'s social media to complete an online survey (April-October 2020) about drug 
      use during the pandemic. The mostly White, heterosexual sample used an average of 
      seven different substances in the past 12 months. Slightly less than half 
      reported increasing use since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with young 
      adults and lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, or queer (LGBPQ) identifying 
      individuals significantly more likely to do so. Relative to other substances, 
      benzodiazepine use increased, and 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 
      psychedelic use decreased, while alcohol use stayed the same. Conclusions: The 
      COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected those who are young adults, LGBPQ, 
      and use drugs. Their unique needs during the pandemic warrant attention. The swap 
      from leisure (e.g. MDMA) to anti-anxiety (e.g. Xanax) drugs is not surprising. 
      Yet, the rise in novel benzodiazepines (Laing et al., 2021) is a point of concern 
      that suggests drug checking and educational efforts can best reduce potential 
      risks.
FAU - Perrone, Dina
AU  - Perrone D
AD  - School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management, California 
      State University, Long Beach, California, USA.
FAU - Fischer, Ryan
AU  - Fischer R
AD  - School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management, California 
      State University, Long Beach, California, USA.
FAU - Florek, Jianna
AU  - Florek J
AD  - School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management, California 
      State University, Long Beach, California, USA.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20230615
PL  - England
TA  - Subst Use Misuse
JT  - Substance use & misuse
JID - 9602153
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Female
MH  - Young Adult
MH  - Humans
MH  - *N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
MH  - Pandemics
MH  - *COVID-19
MH  - Communicable Disease Control
MH  - *Sexual and Gender Minorities
MH  - *Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - Big Events
OT  - COVID-19
OT  - EDM
OT  - LGB
OT  - benzodiazepines
OT  - drugs
OT  - polysubstance use
EDAT- 2023/06/15 13:07
MHDA- 2023/07/17 06:42
CRDT- 2023/06/15 06:13
PHST- 2023/07/17 06:42 [medline]
PHST- 2023/06/15 13:07 [pubmed]
PHST- 2023/06/15 06:13 [entrez]
AID - 10.1080/10826084.2023.2181034 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Subst Use Misuse. 2023;58(11):1314-1323. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2181034. Epub 
      2023 Jun 15.