Dataset Information

Social distancing and changes in drug use: Results from a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 has led to measures of social distancing and quarantine worldwide. This stressful period may lead to psychological problems, including changes in substance use. In addition, sociodemographic factors are linked to changed levels of drug use and abuse observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are also associated with increased anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate (i) changes in drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with social distancing, and (ii) to verify factors associated with those changes.

Methods

A web-based cross-sectional observational survey was completed by a self-selected adult general population in Brazil (N = 2,435) during September/October 2020 (first wave) before and throughout the pandemic. Key outcomes: social distancing, self-reported drug use (ASSIST), and emotional states (DASS-21).

Results

High social distancing was associated with fewer chances (prevalence ratio) of increased drug use for alcohol (0.71, CI_95%: 0.64-0.80), tobacco (0.72; CI_95%: 0.60-0.87), cannabis (0.65; CI_95%: 0.55-0.78), and others. Low social distancing presented a higher DASS-21 score for anxiety (P = 0.017). Concerning covariates analysis by a general linear model, men (alcohol: 1. 71; cannabis: 3.86), younger age (alcohol: 0.97), less education (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and cocaine/crack comparing several lower schooling categories vs. higher education), lower income (alcohol: 0.42; tobacco: 0.47; and cannabis: 0.36), and higher depression DASS-21 score (alcohol: 1.05; tobacco: 1.08; cannabis: 1.07; and cocaine/crack: 1.07) were associated with higher use prevalence of several drugs.

Conclusions

Individuals reporting low social distancing increased the use of most drugs during the pandemic, while high social distancing significantly decreased drug use. Anxiety and depressive states and several sociodemographic factors (men; lower income; less education) were associated with higher drug use patterns.

SUBMITTER: Nin MS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9682187 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Social distancing and changes in drug use: Results from a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Nin Maurício Schüler MS Heidrich Nubia N Almeida Felipe B FB Izolan Lucas R LR Constant Hilda M R M HMRM Freese Luana L Gomez Rosane R Barros Helena M T HMT

Frontiers in psychiatry 20221109

<h4>Background</h4>The outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 has led to measures of social distancing and quarantine worldwide. This stressful period may lead to psychological problems, including changes in substance use. In addition, sociodemographic factors are linked to changed levels of drug use and abuse observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are also associated with increased anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate (i) changes in drug use ...[more]

PMID: 36440408

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Project description:ObjectiveThe importance of a healthy lifestyle in preventing morbidity and mortality is well-established. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant lifestyle changes globally, but the extent of these changes in the Brazilian population remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in lifestyle among the Brazilian general population during the first year of the pandemic.DesignThree consecutive anonymous web surveys were carried out: survey 1 (S1)-April 2020, S2-August 2020 and S3-January 2021.SettingBrazil.ParticipantsThe study included 19 257 (S1), 1590 (S2) and 859 (S3) participants from the general population, who were ≥18 years, of both sexes, with access to the internet, self-reporting living in Brazil and who agreed to participate after reading the informed consent.Primary outcomeLifestyle changes were assessed using the Short Multidimensional Instrument for Lifestyle Evaluation-Confinement (SMILE-C). The SMILE-C assesses lifestyle across multiple domains including diet, substance use, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, social support and environmental exposures. We used a combination of bootstrapping and linear fixed-effect modelling to estimate pairwise mean differences of SMILE-C scores overall and by domain between surveys.ResultsIn all the surveys, participants were mostly women and with a high education level. Mean SMILE-C scores were 186.4 (S1), 187.4 (S2) and 190.5 (S3), indicating a better lifestyle in S3 as compared with S1. The pairwise mean differences of the overall SMILE-C scores were statistically significant (p<0.001). We also observed a better lifestyle over time in all domains except for diet and social support.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that individuals from a large middle-income country, such as Brazil, struggled to restore diet and social relationships after 1 year of the pandemic. These findings have implications for monitoring the long-term consequences of the pandemic, as well as future pandemics.

Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic had many unprecedented secondary outcomes resulting in various mental health issues leading to substance use as a coping behavior. The extent of changes in substance use in a US sample by nativity has not been previously described.ObjectiveThis study aimed to design a web-based survey to assess the social distancing and isolation issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic to describe substance use as a coping behavior by comparing substance use changes before and during the pandemic.MethodsA comprehensive 116-item survey was designed to understand the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing on physical and psychosocial mental health and chronic diseases. Approximately 10,000 web-based surveys were distributed by Qualtrics LLC between May 13, 2021, and January 09, 2022, across the United States (ie, continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and territories) to adults aged ≥18 years. We oversampled low-income and rural adults among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic or Latino, and foreign-born participants. Of the 5938 surveys returned, 5413 (91.16%) surveys were used after proprietary expert review fraud detection (Qualtrics) and detailed assessments of the completion rate and the timing to complete the survey. Participant demographics, substance use coping behaviors, and substance use before and during the pandemic are described by the overall US resident sample, followed by US-born and foreign-born self-reports. Substance use included the use of tobacco, e-cigarettes or nicotine vapes, alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit substances. Marginal homogeneity based on the Stuart-Maxwell test was used to assess changes in self-reported substance use before and during the pandemic.ResultsThe sample mostly included White (2182/5413, 40.31%) and women participants (3369/5406, 62.32%) who identified as straight or heterosexual (4805/5406, 88.88%), reported making ≥US $75,000 (1405/5355, 26.23%), and had vocational or technical training (1746/5404, 32.31%). Similarities were observed between the US-born and the foreign-born participants on increased alcohol consumption: from no alcohol consumption before the pandemic to consuming alcohol once to several times a month and from once to several times per week to every day to several times per day. Although significant changes were observed from no prior alcohol use to some level of increased use, the opposite was also observed and was more pronounced among foreign-born participants. That is, there was a 5.1% overall change in some level of alcohol use before the pandemic to no alcohol use during the pandemic among foreign-born individuals, compared with a 4.3% change among US-born individuals.ConclusionsTo better prepare for the inadvertent effects of public health policies meant to protect individuals, we must understand the mental health burdens that can precipitate into substance use coping mechanisms that not only have a deleterious effect on physical and mental health but also exacerbate morbidity and mortality in a disease like COVID-19.

Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has arguably facilitated a shift toward increased sedentariness and reduced physical activity. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that mental health has also declined during the pandemic. However, it remains unknown to what extent social distancing (SD) behaviors and mental health have affected the physical activity levels of the general population.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the influence of SD behaviors and prevailing mental health on the odds of being physically active during the early COVID-19 pandemic response.MethodsA total of 4819 adults (2474/4819, 51.3%, female) from the US population with a median age of 46 (IQR 35-59) completed an online survey during the early pandemic response (April-June 2020). The survey included questions on adherence to 11 SD behaviors, and validated questionnaires which assessed self-reported physical activity, depression, anxiety, and mental well-being. Respondents were categorized into 2 physical activity groups: inactive (0-599 metabolic equivalent of task [MET]-minutes/week) and active (≥600 MET-minutes/week). A logistic generalized additive model (GAM) was used to determine which SD factors and mental health outcomes were associated with physical activity level.ResultsThe GAM analysis revealed that wearing a facemask in public (odds ratio [OR] 1.46, 95% CI 1.14-1.79; P=.003), limiting the use of public transport (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.19-1.83; P=.001), and restricting travel outside the house (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.19-2.05; P=.002) were SD behaviors associated with higher odds of being more physically active. Conversely, avoiding physical activity outside the house was associated with higher odds of being inactive (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.46-0.63; P<.001). Leaving the house more frequently, and a higher mental well-being were associated with increasing odds of being physically active (P<.001). Engaging with a moderate number of SD behaviors (3-7 total) was positively associated with physical activity, whereas a very high SD vigilance (ie, engaging with ≥10 total behaviors) decreased the odds of being active during the early pandemic response.ConclusionsBased on the findings of our study, we suggest that future public health messaging of SD guidelines should include (1) a clear portrayal of the benefits of regular exercise on mental health; and (2) a specific focus on how to be physically active outdoors in a COVID-safe manner.

Project description:BackgroundPrevious studies on the impact of social distancing on COVID-19 mortality in the United States have predominantly examined this relationship at the national level and have not separated COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes from total COVID-19 deaths. This approach may obscure differences in social distancing behaviors by county in addition to the actual effectiveness of social distancing in preventing COVID-19 deaths.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the influence of county-level social distancing behavior on COVID-19 mortality (deaths per 100,000 people) across US counties over the period of the implementation of stay-at-home orders in most US states (March-May 2020).MethodsUsing social distancing data from tracked mobile phones in all US counties, we estimated the relationship between social distancing (average proportion of mobile phone usage outside of home between March and May 2020) and COVID-19 mortality (when the state in which the county is located reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 and up to May 31, 2020) with a mixed-effects negative binomial model while distinguishing COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes from total COVID-19 deaths and accounting for social distancing- and COVID-19-related factors (including the period between the report of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 and May 31, 2020; population density; social vulnerability; and hospital resource availability). Results from the mixed-effects negative binomial model were then used to generate marginal effects at the mean, which helped separate the influence of social distancing on COVID-19 deaths from other covariates while calculating COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people.ResultsWe observed that a 1% increase in average mobile phone usage outside of home between March and May 2020 led to a significant increase in COVID-19 mortality by a factor of 1.18 (P<.001), while every 1% increase in the average proportion of mobile phone usage outside of home in February 2020 was found to significantly decrease COVID-19 mortality by a factor of 0.90 (P<.001).ConclusionsAs stay-at-home orders have been lifted in many US states, continued adherence to other social distancing measures, such as avoiding large gatherings and maintaining physical distance in public, are key to preventing additional COVID-19 deaths in counties across the country.

Project description:BackgroundImplementing and lifting social distancing (LSD) is an urgent global issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when the travel ban is lifted to revive international businesses and economies. However, when and whether LSD can be considered is subject to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the recovery rate, and the case-fatality rate. It is imperative to provide real-time assessment of three factors to guide LSD.ObjectiveA simple LSD index was developed for health decision makers to do real-time assessment of COVID-19 at the global, country, region, and community level.MethodsData on the retrospective cohort of 186 countries with three factors were retrieved from a publicly available repository from January to early July. A simple index for guiding LSD was measured by the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases and recoveries, and the case-fatality rate was envisaged. If the LSD index was less than 1, LSD can be considered. The dynamic changes of the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated to assess whether and when health decision makers allowed for LSD and when to reimplement social distancing after resurgences of the epidemic.ResultsAfter large-scale outbreaks in a few countries before mid-March (prepandemic phase), the global weekly LSD index peaked at 4.27 in March and lasted until mid-June (pandemic phase), during which most countries were affected and needed to take various social distancing measures. Since, the value of LSD has gradually declined to 0.99 on July 5 (postpandemic phase), at which 64.7% (120/186) of countries and regions had an LSD<1 with the decile between 0 and 1 to refine risk stratification by countries. The LSD index decreased to 1 in about 115 days. In addition, we present the results of dynamic changes of the LSD index for the world and for each country and region with different time windows from January to July 5. The results of the LSD index on the resurgence of the COVID-19 epidemic in certain regions and validation by other emerging infectious diseases are presented.ConclusionsThis simple LSD index provides a quantitative assessment of whether and when to ease or implement social distancing to provide advice for health decision makers and travelers.

Dataset Information

Social distancing and changes in drug use: Results from a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Social distancing and changes in drug use: Results from a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

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