A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in Brazil
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges, including severe psychological consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals, such as those with substance use disorders. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on substance use patterns and psychological health in Brazilian...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1514365/full |
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| author | Nubia Heidrich Nubia Heidrich Maurício Schüler Nin Felipe Borges Almeida Felipe Borges Almeida Hilda M. R. M. Constant Luana Freese Helena M. T. Barros Helena M. T. Barros |
| author_facet | Nubia Heidrich Nubia Heidrich Maurício Schüler Nin Felipe Borges Almeida Felipe Borges Almeida Hilda M. R. M. Constant Luana Freese Helena M. T. Barros Helena M. T. Barros |
| author_sort | Nubia Heidrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges, including severe psychological consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals, such as those with substance use disorders. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on substance use patterns and psychological health in Brazilians, exploring associations with sociodemographic factors to identify groups at higher risk. Data were collected online to assess self-reported substance use through the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), and psychological state, using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and level of social distancing. The research was conducted in three waves: September-October 2020, April-May 2021, and September-November 2022. The ASSIST (alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens, and cocaine/crack) and DASS-21 (anxiety, depression, and stress) scores decreased over time. Regarding sociodemographic data, being male, single, with less education, lower income and lower social distancing showed associations with alcohol and cannabis scores. All drug scores showed associations with psychological symptoms and time, suggesting a possible adaptation or resilience of the sample to the challenges of the pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring patterns of substance use and mental health in times of crisis, especially in vulnerable populations. Such knowledge is essential to inform public health strategies and prepare health systems to face future global crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-df48700e933e4fb18a033bc7655822e2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-df48700e933e4fb18a033bc7655822e22025-01-30T06:22:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-01-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15143651514365A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in BrazilNubia Heidrich0Nubia Heidrich1Maurício Schüler Nin2Felipe Borges Almeida3Felipe Borges Almeida4Hilda M. R. M. Constant5Luana Freese6Helena M. T. Barros7Helena M. T. Barros8Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilNeuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilNeuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilGraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilNeuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilDepartment of Behavioral Science Methodology, Universitat de València, València, SpainGraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilGraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilNeuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges, including severe psychological consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals, such as those with substance use disorders. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on substance use patterns and psychological health in Brazilians, exploring associations with sociodemographic factors to identify groups at higher risk. Data were collected online to assess self-reported substance use through the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), and psychological state, using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and level of social distancing. The research was conducted in three waves: September-October 2020, April-May 2021, and September-November 2022. The ASSIST (alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens, and cocaine/crack) and DASS-21 (anxiety, depression, and stress) scores decreased over time. Regarding sociodemographic data, being male, single, with less education, lower income and lower social distancing showed associations with alcohol and cannabis scores. All drug scores showed associations with psychological symptoms and time, suggesting a possible adaptation or resilience of the sample to the challenges of the pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring patterns of substance use and mental health in times of crisis, especially in vulnerable populations. Such knowledge is essential to inform public health strategies and prepare health systems to face future global crises.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1514365/fullsubstance-related disordersalcoholtobaccoillicit drugslongitudinal studydepression |
| spellingShingle | Nubia Heidrich Nubia Heidrich Maurício Schüler Nin Felipe Borges Almeida Felipe Borges Almeida Hilda M. R. M. Constant Luana Freese Helena M. T. Barros Helena M. T. Barros A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in Brazil Frontiers in Psychiatry substance-related disorders alcohol tobacco illicit drugs longitudinal study depression |
| title | A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in Brazil |
| title_full | A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in Brazil |
| title_short | A cohort-based assessment of drug use trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in Brazil |
| title_sort | cohort based assessment of drug use trends during the covid 19 pandemic relationship with mood and sociodemographic factors in brazil |
| topic | substance-related disorders alcohol tobacco illicit drugs longitudinal study depression |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1514365/full |
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