AUTHOR=Farhoudian Ali , Radfar Seyed Ramin , Mohaddes Ardabili Hossein , Rafei Parnian , Ebrahimi Mohsen , Khojasteh Zonoozi Arash , De Jong Cornelis A. J. , Vahidi Mehrnoosh , Yunesian Masud , Kouimtsidis Christos , Arunogiri Shalini , Hansen Helena , Brady Kathleen T. , ISAM Global Survey Consortium (ISAM-GSC) , Abagiu Adrian Octavian , Noel Abouna Franck David , Ahmed Mohamed Hassan , Al-ansari Basma , Abu Al-khair Feda Mahmmoud , Almaqbali Mandhar Humaid , Ambekar Atul , Arya Sidharth , Asebikan Victor Olufolahan , Ayasreh Murad Ali , Basu Debasish , Benmebarek Zoubir , Bhad Roshan , Blaise Mario , Bonnet Nicolas , Brasch Jennifer , Broers Barbara , Busse Anja , Butner Jenna L. , Camilleri Moses , Campello Giovanna , Carra Giuseppe , Celic Ivan , Chalabianloo Fatemeh , Chaturvedi Abhishek , Noyola Cherpitel José de Jesús Eduardo , Clark Kelly J. , Cyders Melissa Anne , Bernardis Ernesto de , Deilamizade Abbas , Derry John Edward , Dhagudu Naveen Kumar , Dolezalova Pavla , Dom Geert , Dunlop Adrian John , Elhabiby Mahmoud Mamdouh , Elkholy Hussein , Essien Nsidibe Francis , Farah Ghandi Ilias , Ferri Marica , Floros Georgios D , Friedman Catherine , Fuderanan Clara Hidalgo , Gerra Gilberto , Ghosh Abhishek , Gogia Maka , Grammatikopoulos Ilias A. , Grandinetti Paolo , Guirguis Amira , Gutnisky David , Haber Paul Steven , Hassani-Abharian Peyman , Hooshyari Zahra , Mokhtar Ibrahim Islam Ibrahim , Ieong Hada Fong-ha , Indradewi Regina Nova , Iskandar Shelly , Isra Thahir Noorul , Jain Shobhit , James Sandi , Javadi Seyyed Mohammad hossein , Joe Keun Ho , Jokubonis Darius , Jovanova Acka Tushevska , Kamal Rama Mohamed , Kantchelov Alexander Ivanov , Kathiresan Preethy , Katzman Gary , Kawale Paul , Kern Audrey Margaret , Paim Kessler Felix Henrique , Kim Sung-Gon Sue , Kimball Ann Marie , Kljucevic Zeljko , Kurniasanti Kristiana Siste , Lev Roneet , Lee Hae Kook , Lengvenyte Aiste , Lev-ran Shaul , Mabelya Geni Seseja , El Mahi Mohamed Ali , Maphisa J. Maphisa , Maremmani Icro , Masferrer Laura , Massah Omid , McCambridge Orlagh , McGovern Garrett Gregory , Min Aung Kyi , Moghanibashi-Mansourieh Amir , Mora-Rios Jazman , Mudalige Indika Udaya Kumara , Mukherjee Diptadhi , Munira Pejic Munira , Myers Bronwyn , Menon T. N. Jayakrishnan , Narasimha Venkata Lakshmi , Ndionuka Nkemakolam , Nejatisafa Ali-Akbar , Niaz Kamran , Nizami Asad Tamizuddin , Nuijens Jan H. , Orsolini Laura , Oum Vantheara , Oyemade Adegboyega Adekunle , Palavra Irena Rojnia , Pant Sagun Ballav , Paredes Joselyn , Peyron Eric , Quirós Randall Alberto , Qurishi Rouhollah , Rafiq Noor ul Zaman , Rao Ranjini Raghavendra , Ratta-apha Woraphat , Raymond Karren-Lee , Reimer Jens , Renaldo Eduardo , Rezapour Tara , Robertson James Roy , Roncero Carlos , Roub Fazle , Rubenstein Elizabeth Jane , Rupp Claudia Ines , Saenz Elizabeth , Salehi Mohammad , Samartzis Lampros , Sarubbo Laura Beatriz , Segrec Nusa , Shah Bigya , Shen Hongxian , Shirasaka Tomohiro , Shoptaw Steve , Sintango Fransiskus Muronga , Sosa Veronica Andrea , Subata Emilis , Sztycberg Norberto , Taghizadeh Fatemeh , Wee Teck Joseph Brian Tay , Tjagvad Christian , Torrens Marta , Twala Judith Meme , Vadivel Ramyadarshni , Volpicelli Joseph Robert , Weijs Jelmer , Wintoniw Steven Michael , Wittayanookulluk Apisak , Wojnar Marcin , Yasir Sadia , Yitayih Yimenu , Zhao Min , Potenza Marc N. , Baldacchino Alexander Mario , Ekhtiari Hamed
TITLE=A Global Survey on Changes in the Supply, Price, and Use of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol, and Related Complications During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry
VOLUME=12
YEAR=2021
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.646206
DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.646206
ISSN=1664-0640
ABSTRACT=Background and Aims: COVID-19 has infected more than 77 million people worldwide and impacted the lives of many more, with a particularly devastating impact on vulnerable populations, including people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Quarantines, travel bans, regulatory changes, social distancing, and “lockdown” measures have affected drug and alcohol supply chains and subsequently their availability, price, and use patterns, with possible downstream effects on presentations of SUDs and demand for treatment. Given the lack of multicentric epidemiologic studies, we conducted a rapid global survey within the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) network in order to understand the status of substance-use patterns during the current pandemic.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Worldwide.
Participants: Starting on April 4, 2020 during a 5-week period, the survey received 185 responses from 77 countries.
Measurements: To assess addiction medicine professionals' perceived changes in drug and alcohol supply, price, use pattern, and related complications during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings: Participants reported (among who answered “decreased” or “increased”) a decrease in drug supply (69.0%) and at the same time an increase in price (95.3%) globally. With respect to changes in use patterns, an increase in alcohol (71.7%), cannabis (63.0%), prescription opioids (70.9%), and sedative/hypnotics (84.6%) use was reported, while the use of amphetamines (59.7%), cocaine (67.5%), and opiates (58.2%) was reported to decrease overall.
Conclusions: The global report on changes in the availability, use patterns, and complications of alcohol and drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered in making new policies and in developing mitigating measures and guidelines during the current pandemic (and probable future ones) in order to minimize risks to people with SUD.