Tobacco Induced Diseases (Jan 2023)

Factors associated with an increase in alcohol consumption and tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of data from 105 countries

  • Mir Faeq A. Quadri,
  • Joanne Lusher,
  • Morenike O. Folayan,
  • Maha El Tantawi,
  • Ariel A. Zuñiga,
  • Brandon Brown,
  • Nourhan M. Aly,
  • Joseph C. Okeibunor,
  • Giuliana Florencia,
  • Mohammed Jafer,
  • Eshrat Ara,
  • Kessketlen A. Miranda,
  • Nuraldeen M. Al-Khanati,
  • Passent Ellakany,
  • Balgis Gaffar,
  • Anthonia O. Ishabiyi,
  • Abeedha T. Khan,
  • Zumama Khalid,
  • Folake B. Lawal,
  • Ntombifuthi Nzimande,
  • Anas Shamala,
  • Ala’a B. Al-Tammemi,
  • Bamidele E. Osamika,
  • Muhammad A. Yousaf,
  • Jorma I. Virtanen,
  • Annie L. Nguyen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/157205
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. January
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably led to monumental challenges, and alcohol consumption and tobacco use have unlikely been spared. This cross-sectional survey reports on factors associated with an increase in alcohol consumption and tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An online survey conducted in 2020, generated data from 14899 adults residing in 105 countries. Dependent variables were changes in alcohol consumption and tobacco use. Independent variables were age, sex, education level, job loss, lost or reduced wages, investment/retirement benefits, interrupted substance addiction care, and income level of the countries. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was computed to explore the associations between dependent and independent variables in adjusted models using the backward stepwise method. The probability of including or excluding a covariate was set at p(in) 0.1, respectively. Results Of the regular alcohol consumers (N=4401), 22.9% reported an increase in their alcohol consumption. Of the regular tobacco users (N=2718), 31% reported an increase in their tobacco use. Job loss (Alcohol: AOR=1.26; Tobacco: AOR=1.32) and lost/reduced wages (Alcohol: AOR=1.52; Tobacco: AOR=1.52) were associated with higher odds of increased alcohol consumption and tobacco use. Many interruptions to addiction care (AOR=1.75) were associated with higher odds of increased alcohol consumption. Whereas no interruption to addiction care was associated with lower odds of increased alcohol consumption (AOR=0.77). Also, none (AOR=0.66) or some (AOR=0.70) interruptions to addiction care were associated with lower odds of increased tobacco use. Conclusions This global survey alludes to the unintended consequences of the current COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption and tobacco use. It is critical that the strategies for emergency responses should include support to ameliorate the impact of financial distress and disruption in substance dependence treatment services.

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