Self-reported changes in alcohol and tobacco use during COVID-19: findings from the eastern part of WHO European Region

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic might impact substance use behaviours around the globe. In this study, we investigate changes in alcohol and tobacco use in the second half of 2020 in countries of the eastern part of the WHO European Region. Methods Self-reported changes in alcohol and toba...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	European journal of public health Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 474 - 480
Main Authors:	Kilian, Carolin, Neufeld, Maria, Manthey, Jakob, Alavidze, Sophiko, Bobrova, Anastacia, Baron-Epel, Orna, Berisha, Merita, Bilici, Rabia, Davletov, Kairat, Isajeva, Laura, Kantaş Yılmaz, Fatma, Karatkevich, Tatsiana, Mereke, Alibek, Musić Milanović, Sanja, Galstyan, Kristine, Muslić, Ljiljana, Okoliyski, Michail, Shabani, Zana, Štelemėkas, Mindaugas, Sturua, Lela, Sznitman, Sharon R, Ünübol, Başak, Ferreira-Borges, Carina, Rehm, Jürgen
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Oxford University Press 01-06-2022 Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
Subjects:	Adults Age Alcohol use Alcoholism Alcohols Coronaviruses COVID-19 Drug use Epidemics Europe Gender Pandemics Psychological aspects Public health Regions Regression analysis Regression models Respondents Risk factors Statistical analysis Statistics Substance use Tobacco Tobacco habit Young adults Europe
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic might impact substance use behaviours around the globe. In this study, we investigate changes in alcohol and tobacco use in the second half of 2020 in countries of the eastern part of the WHO European Region. Methods Self-reported changes in alcohol and tobacco use among 11 295 adults from 18 countries in the eastern part of the WHO European Region were collected between August 2020 and January 2021. The non-probabilistic sample was weighted for age, gender and education. For each country, proportions of respondents reporting a decrease, no change or increase in substance use over the past 3 months were examined, and multinomial regression models were used to test associations with age, gender and past-year alcohol use. Results In most countries, about half of the respondents indicating past-year alcohol or tobacco use reported no change in their substance use. Of those alcohol users who reported changes in their alcohol use, a larger proportion reported a decrease than an increase in most countries. The opposite was true for tobacco use. Women, young adults and past-year harmful alcohol users were identified as being more likely to change their substance use behaviour. Conclusion We found diverging overall trends for alcohol and tobacco use in the second half of 2020. The patterns of change vary according to age, gender and past-year substance use. Individuals at risk to increase their substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic require most policy considerations.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Shared first authors.
ISSN:	1101-1262 1464-360X
DOI:	10.1093/eurpub/ckac011