Using Substances to Cope With the COVID-19 Pandemic: U.S. National Data at Age 19 Years

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 340 - 344
• Main Authors: Patrick, Megan E., Parks, Michael J., Fairlie, Anne M., Kreski, Noah T., Keyes, Katherine M., Miech, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2022; Elsevier BV; Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adolescent Health Brief; Adult; Confidence intervals; Coping; COVID-19; Drug; Drug abuse; Drug use; Economic hardship; Humans; Isolation; Marijuana; Pandemic; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Substance abuse; Substance use; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Young Adult; Young adults; Youth; United States > US; Drug; Substance use; Pandemic; Isolation; Coping
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.11.006

To examine predictors of using substances to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, including pandemic-related isolation, stress, economic hardship, demographics, and prepandemic substance use. A U.S. national sample (N = 1,244) was followed from the 12th grade in Spring 2019 to Fall 2020 (M = 19.6 years) when young adults were asked about their use of marijuana, vaping, drinking, and other drugs to cope. In Fall 2020, 15.7% reported using marijuana, 8.9% increased vaping, and 8.2% increased drinking to cope with social distancing and isolation. In multivariable analyses controlling for demographics and prepandemic substance use, COVID-related isolation was associated with marijuana use (odds ratio = 1.31, 95% confidence interval = 1.06–1.63) and economic hardship with increased drinking (odds ratio = 1.39, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.92). There were few demographic differences. Most (>80%) who reported COVID-related substance use coping used that substance before pandemic. Young people reported using substances to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if they reported prepandemic use.