Alcohol consumption epidemic and its complications during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khuzestan Province, Iran; 2020

• Published in: Archiwum medycyny sądowej i krjminologii Vol. 71; no. 3-4; pp. 77 - 86
• Main Authors: Mohtasham, Neda, Jamshidi, Farkhondeh, Dastoorpoor, Maryam, Khodadadi, Narges, Rahmani, Ali Hassan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego 2021; Jagiellonian University Press
• Subjects: Criminology; Sociology; Substance abuse and addiction; COVID19; Alcohol; Crisis; Methanol
• ISSN: 1689-1716; 0324-8267

Background: After unprecedented demand for ethanol in the pandemic, profiteers used methanol for making illegal alcoholic drink. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study investigated the effects of methanol poisoning on 400 patients who referred to hospitals affiliated with Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences from March 20 to September 20, 2020. Results: Ninety-eight-point five percent of patients had consumed alcohol for social reasons and only 0.3% had used it as a measure to avoid COVID-19. Eighty-seven percent of the patients used homemade alcohol bought from peddlers. The most common clinical symptom was gastrointestinal disorders (64.8%) and the most common complications were vision problems (12.3%). Ten-point-six percent (42 patients) of the patients died. The most important factors affecting mortality risk were dyspnea, neuropathic problems, abnormal radiological findings, dialysis, abnormal blood pressure, vision problems and dizziness. Conclusions: Informing the public about the risks of using homemade alcoholic beverages is essential if the associated disability and mortality has to be avoided.