COVID-19’s Impact on Substance Use and Well-Being of Younger Adult Cannabis Users in California: A Mixed Methods Inquiry

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Abstract

Few qualitative studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on cannabis and alcohol use, and overall well-being among cannabis users. Cannabis users (aged 26-32) were surveyed quantitatively (n=158) and interviewed qualitatively (n=29) in April 2020–May 2021 in Los Angeles. 63.3% of the quantitative sample reported increasing use of either cannabis (29.1%) or alcohol (15.2%) or both (19.0%) following the COVID-19 outbreak. Qualitative data revealed that increases in cannabis and alcohol use were largely attributed to changes in employment and staying at home resulting in fewer impediments and boredom. Themes of loneliness and utilization of various coping strategies were more pronounced among those who increased cannabis and/or alcohol use. For some, increases in cannabis/alcohol use were temporary until participants adjusted to “a new normal” or embraced more adaptive coping strategies. Results suggest monitoring cannabis/alcohol use trends and identifying coping strategies to reduce the pandemic’s impact on substance use and mental health.

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The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence

Samantha K. Brooks, Rebecca K Webster, Louise E. Smith … (2022)

Summary The December, 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak has seen many countries ask people who have potentially come into contact with the infection to isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. Decisions on how to apply quarantine should be based on the best available evidence. We did a Review of the psychological impact of quarantine using three electronic databases. Of 3166 papers found, 24 are included in this Review. Most reviewed studies reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger. Stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma. Some researchers have suggested long-lasting effects. In situations where quarantine is deemed necessary, officials should quarantine individuals for no longer than required, provide clear rationale for quarantine and information about protocols, and ensure sufficient supplies are provided. Appeals to altruism by reminding the public about the benefits of quarantine to wider society can be favourable.

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Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science

Emily A. Holmes, Rory C O'Connor, V. Perry … (2020)

Summary The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a profound effect on all aspects of society, including mental health and physical health. We explore the psychological, social, and neuroscientific effects of COVID-19 and set out the immediate priorities and longer-term strategies for mental health science research. These priorities were informed by surveys of the public and an expert panel convened by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the mental health research charity, MQ: Transforming Mental Health, in the first weeks of the pandemic in the UK in March, 2020. We urge UK research funding agencies to work with researchers, people with lived experience, and others to establish a high level coordination group to ensure that these research priorities are addressed, and to allow new ones to be identified over time. The need to maintain high-quality research standards is imperative. International collaboration and a global perspective will be beneficial. An immediate priority is collecting high-quality data on the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic across the whole population and vulnerable groups, and on brain function, cognition, and mental health of patients with COVID-19. There is an urgent need for research to address how mental health consequences for vulnerable groups can be mitigated under pandemic conditions, and on the impact of repeated media consumption and health messaging around COVID-19. Discovery, evaluation, and refinement of mechanistically driven interventions to address the psychological, social, and neuroscientific aspects of the pandemic are required. Rising to this challenge will require integration across disciplines and sectors, and should be done together with people with lived experience. New funding will be required to meet these priorities, and it can be efficiently leveraged by the UK's world-leading infrastructure. This Position Paper provides a strategy that may be both adapted for, and integrated with, research efforts in other countries.

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COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature

Ravi Philip Rajkumar (2020)

Highlights • Subsyndromal mental health concerns are a common response to the COVID-19 outbreak. • These responses affect both the general public and healthcare workers. • Depressive and anxiety symptoms have been reported in 16–28% of subjects screened. • Novel methods of consultation, such as online services, can be helpful for these patients. • There is a need for further long-term research in this area, especially from other countries

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Drug Issues

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J Drug Issues

Journal ID (hwp): spjod

Journal ID (publisher-id): JOD

Title: Journal of Drug Issues

Publisher: SAGE Publications (Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA )

ISSN (Print): 0022-0426

ISSN (Electronic): 1945-1369

Publication date (Print and electronic): April 2022

Publication date (Print): April 2022

Publication date PMC-release: April 2022

Volume: 52

Issue: 2

Pages: 207-224

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Ringgold 37412, universityDrexel University; , Philadelphia, PA, United States

[2 ]Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, Ringgold 5116, universityUniversity of Southern California; , Los Angeles, CA, United States

[3 ]Division of Adolescent Medicine, universityChildren’s Hospital Los Angeles; , Los Angeles, CA, United States

[4 ] Division of Research on Children, Youth, & Families, universityChildren’s Hospital Los Angeles; , Los Angeles, CA, United States

Author notes

[*]Ekaterina V. Fedorova, Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Email: evf26@ 123456drexel.edu

Author information

Ekaterina V. Fedorova https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8084-9703

Article

Publisher ID: 10.1177_00220426211052673

DOI: 10.1177/00220426211052673

PMC ID: 8919106

PubMed ID: 35382397

SO-VID: 4bdcaaf6-d475-46ba-b657-98e48a38e109

License:

This article is made available via the PMC Open Access Subset for unrestricted re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic or until permissions are revoked in writing. Upon expiration of these permissions, PMC is granted a perpetual license to make this article available via PMC and Europe PMC, consistent with existing copyright protections.

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Funding

Funded by: National Institute on Drug Abuse, FundRef https://doi.org/10.13039/100000026;

Award ID: DA034067

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Keywords: covid-19,cannabis,alcohol,young adults,loneliness,social isolation,qualitative,mixed methods

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Keywords: covid-19, cannabis, alcohol, young adults, loneliness, social isolation, qualitative, mixed methods

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COVID-19’s Impact on Substance Use and Well-Being of Younger Adult Cannabis Users in California: A Mixed Methods Inquiry

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 49

The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence

Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science

COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature

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Cited by 8

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