Substance Use and Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey

Daniel Deimel (), Christine Firk, Heino Stöver, Nicolas Hees, Norbert Scherbaum and Simon Fleißner
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Daniel Deimel: German Institute for Addiction and Prevention Research, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, 52066 Aachen, Germany
Christine Firk: Institute of Health Research and Social Psychiatry, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, 52066 Aachen, Germany
Heino Stöver: Institute for Addiction Research, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, 60318 Frankfurt, Germany
Nicolas Hees: LVR-Hospital Essen, Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
Norbert Scherbaum: LVR-Hospital Essen, Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
Simon Fleißner: Institute for Addiction Research, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, 60318 Frankfurt, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Background: The measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have led to significant changes in people’s daily lives. This paper examines changes in substance use during the first lockdown (March–July 2020) and investigates mental health burdens in substance users with increased consumption of alcohol, nicotine or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Germany compared to users with unchanged or reduced consumption. Method: In a cross-sectional online survey, 2369 people were asked about their mental health and their substance use during the first lockdown in Germany. Results: Of the participants, 28.5% increased their alcohol use, 28.8% their use of tobacco products, and 20.6% their use of THC-containing products during the pandemic. The groups with increased alcohol, nicotine, and THC use during the first lockdown reported more depressive symptoms and anxiety. Individuals who reported increased consumption of alcohol or nicotine were also more likely to experience loneliness and have suicidal thoughts and were more often stressed due to social distancing. Conclusion: Alcohol, nicotine and THC increased in a subgroup of consumers who reported to have more mental health problems compared to individuals who did not increase their consumption. This increased substance use could, therefore, be understood as a dysfunctional strategy to cope with negative emotions during the lockdown.

Keywords: COVID-19; substance use during lockdown; mental health during lockdown (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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