Pandemic-Related Changes in the Prevalence of Early Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use, 2020-2021: Data From a Multisite Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Evaluate changes in early adolescent substance use from May 2020 to May 2021 during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using data from a prospective nationwide cohort: the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.

Methods

In 2018-2019, 9,270 youth aged 11.5-13.0 completed a prepandemic assessment of past-month alcohol and drug use, then up to seven during-pandemic assessments between May 2020 and May 2021. We compared the prevalence of substance use among same-age youth across these eight timepoints.

Results

Pandemic-related decreases in the past-month prevalence of alcohol use were detectable in May 2020, grew larger over time, and remained substantial in May 2021 (0.3% vs. 3.2% prepandemic, p <.001). Pandemic-related increases in inhalant use (p = .04

SUBMITTER: Pelham WE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10186567 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature