Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation最新文献

{"title":"Hybrid Virtual Group Model for Substance Use Disorder Therapy: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Edward A Trimble, Nicholas L Bormann, Alyssa H Kalata, Dana Gerberi, Stephan Arndt, Tyler S Oesterle","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S518266","DOIUrl":"10.2147/SAR.S518266","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Substance use disorder (SUD) group therapy has traditionally been conducted in-person; however, there is growing interest in virtual formats. While virtual group therapy can address certain barriers for in-person attendance, it may compromise key elements like therapeutic alliance and group cohesiveness. A model that integrates both in-person and virtual participants may help balance the benefits of these two approaches.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To identify and define approaches to SUD group therapy that integrate in-person and virtual participants, summarize study outcomes associated with these models, propose standardized terminology, and provide preliminary recommendations for their application in SUD treatment.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A comprehensive search was conducted on 11/13/2024 and updated on 12/16/2024 by a medical librarian. Included articles were published 2000 onwards and conducted with SUD group therapy where participants or group facilitators were both in-person and virtual. We extracted data from 4 articles that met the search criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1353 articles were screened, 20 were evaluated at the full-text level, and 4 met study inclusion criteria. Two \"hybrid\" model designs for SUD were identified. One model utilized a virtual group facilitator, while participants remained together in-person. The second model kept the facilitator in-person and allowed group participants to be present either virtually or in-person within the same group. Outcomes evaluated included treatment completion across groups and patient perceived changes in therapeutic alliance, group cohesion, and understanding of addiction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We propose a consensus definition of hybrid virtual group models where at least one group member, either the facilitator or one of the participants, attends groups in-person while at least one member attends virtually. While research is limited, early findings suggest that hybrid SUD groups have similar outcomes to in-person groups and better outcomes than virtual-only groups. Unique considerations should be made to ensure that hybrid SUD models are implemented appropriately and effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"137-146"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12086859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144102740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-5): A Cross-Cultural Validation Study in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Mohamed Abouzed, Ahmed Aljadani, Amgad Gabr, Mohamed Elsheikh, Mohamed Saad Almuqahwi, Mohamed Fayed Alrashidy, Ghali Khalaf Alrashidi, Mahmoud Farag Soliman, Amal Nasser Altamimi, Nida Saleh Alenze, Nisrin Elsaadouni","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S519241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S519241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is a globally recognized tool for assessing substance use disorder (SUD) severity. Despite its widespread use, no validated Arabic version exists. This study aimed to validate the Arabic ASI-5 in Egypt and Saudi Arabia and evaluate its psychometric properties.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>: A cross-sectional study recruited 400 participants (200 per country) from inpatient/outpatient SUD treatment centers. The ASI-5 underwent forward-backward translation, pilot testing, and cultural adaptation. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), test-retest reliability (Spearman's ρ), and inter-observer reliability were assessed. Convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated using adjusted Spearman's correlations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Arabic ASI-5 demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.61-0.82), with medical (α = 0.78) and psychiatric (α = 0.82) domains showing the highest reliability. Lower consistency in drug (α = 0.62) and legal (α = 0.61) domains reflected cultural and methodological factors. Test-retest (<i>ρ</i> = 0.55-0.98) and inter-observer reliability (<i>ρ</i> = 0.78-0.99) were strong. Convergent validity was robust for medical and psychiatric domains (r = 0.70-0.85).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Arabic ASI-5 is a reliable tool for assessing SUD severity in Arabic-speaking populations. Further refinement of drug and legal domains is recommended to enhance cultural relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"129-136"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12077407/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144080118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patient Perspectives on a Rapid Access, Walk-in, Medication for Addiction Treatment Clinic.","authors":"Linda Peng, Nicholas L Bormann, Stephan Arndt, Benjamin A Miskle, Andrea N Weber","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S517660","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S517660","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Rapid access addiction medicine (RAAM) walk-in clinics offer low-barrier, prompt treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). These models differ from bridge clinics, which primarily address the barriers of transitioning between inpatient and outpatient SUD treatment settings. Previous RAAM models have been shown to be effective in urban areas. Through patient interviews, this qualitative study sought to describe the unique challenges and successes of a RAAM clinic that serves a primarily rural area.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Adult patients with a SUD who utilized a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) walk-in clinic participated in semi-structured, recorded interviews. Participants were asked about facilitators and barriers to attaining treatment, as well as their perspectives/experiences and unmet wants/needs. Interviewee responses were transcribed, qualitatively coded, and analyzed for prominent trends.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve patients participated. Stigma, lack of rural treatment options, and accessibility concerns were identified as general barriers to receiving SUD care. MAT walk-in clinic specific barriers included distance to clinic, clinic hours, and transportation. Patients identified the clinic's walk-in structure as a primary facilitator of receiving quality SUD care and felt the clinic offered a non-judgmental and accessible environment, differing positively from past treatments. Unmet wants and needs that patients identified included more extensive social services and communication after leaving the clinic.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This MAT walk-in clinic is the only RAAM-style clinic offering same-day dual-diagnosis medication management in the state of Iowa. The walk-in structure was a key facilitator for patients accessing initial care. Expanding RAAM models in rural areas and incorporating telehealth may help address proximity barriers reported by patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"119-128"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12053929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143982793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk of Relapse Following Discharge from Non-Hospital Residential Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Systematic Review of Studies Published from 2018 to 2022.","authors":"Orrin D Ware, Gabriella Rose Geiger, Veronica D Rivas, Miracle A Macias Burgos, Lea Nehme-Kotocavage, Tara G Bautista","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S440214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S440214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Relapsing on opioids after residential treatment may involve fatal outcomes, considering the potential for reduced tolerance and the potency of fentanyl in the illicit opioid market. The present paper examines recent literature on the risk of relapse among adults with opioid use disorder after discharge from residential treatment. We searched for published studies from 2018 to 2022 through database searches, including CINAHL, PsychINFO, PubMed, and Scopus. Across the N=10 studies included in this review, returning to substance use after residential treatment was captured differently, including self-report, hair samples, and urine samples. Follow-up relapse data after discharging from treatment was also captured across different time periods of included studies ranging from one month to six months. Variability was also identified in the percentage of individuals who relapsed after treatment, ranging from 0% to 95%. Considering the potential for a fatal overdose in the current fentanyl era, it is imperative to provide resources during residential treatment that can reduce the risk of relapse after discharge.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"105-118"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12035408/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144049354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patients' Anxiety Levels and Their Reactions Towards the Needed Adaptation of Policies in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Following the October 7th, 2023, Hamas Attack.","authors":"Anat Sason, Miriam Adelson, David Potik, Shaul Schreiber, Einat Peles","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S509821","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S509821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A war state followed the October 7th, 2003, Hamas vast attack on civilians and military in the southern part of Israel, requiring an immediate adaptation of the routine functioning of the methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics - typically, through the expansion of the take-home dose (THD) policies.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the level of anxiety and its relation to patients' satisfaction regarding THD expansion one month post-attack.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Of the 320 current patients in one MMT clinic, 297 (92.8%) were interviewed for anxiety (GAD-7) and rated whether the THD expansion benefited them (1 to 5). Substance in urine, sociodemographic, and addiction history details were taken.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the participants, 35% were found to have no anxiety, 22.2% with mild, 21.9% with moderate, and 20.9% had severe anxiety. Logistic regression for anxiety found cocaine in urine and not opioids in urine (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.6), history of having experienced physical violence (OR = 1.8), and not working (OR = 2.1) as risk factors. THD expansion benefited (scored ≥ 4) 82.2% of the responders, and in logistic regression for severe anxiety, not satisfied with THD expansion (OR = 2.9), being Israeli born (OR = 2.1), and not working (OR = 2.5) were included. Substance use did not change pre- and post-Hamas attack.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Most patients were satisfied with the THD expansion. However, severe anxiety levels characterized those who were not, emphasizing the need for anxiety monitoring to determine those patients. Additional intervention and augmenting these patients' frequency of visits to the clinic (instead of THD expansion) is recommended so they have further meetings with their therapist and reduce their anxiety.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"95-104"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12013643/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144049814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patient Satisfaction and Resource Utilization Following Introduction of Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB) in Scottish Prisons.","authors":"Craig Sayers, Daniel Mogford","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S510467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S510467","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To examine patient satisfaction with long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) as opioid agonist therapy (OAT) during custody, the effect on prisoner behavior and illicit drug use in custody, and the impact on healthcare utilization within OAT programs in Scottish prisons.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This observational, service evaluation included 134 adult patients (≥18 years) with opioid dependence. Clinically appropriate patients were stabilized on monthly LAIB. The following outcomes were evaluated at 12, 24, and 52 weeks: patient satisfaction using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), patient-reported craving using a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS), and opioid withdrawal using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS). Patient-reported illicit drug use and disciplinary actions were recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Retention on LAIB for 12 months or until release/transfer was 93.8%. Patient satisfaction with LAIB was high, with median global TSQM scores >80 at all timepoints in the whole population and in those transferred after reduction from high-dose methadone (>30 mg/day). Compared with the first 4 weeks, craving significantly decreased at Weeks 12 and 24; the decrease at Week 52 was not statistically significant. COWS scores were also significantly lower at all timepoints. Levels of illicit drug use and disciplinary actions were low throughout. Healthcare worker contact time saved with LAIB versus methadone was estimated at ~100 minutes per patient monthly. As of June 30, 2024, ~228 hours in total are estimated to have been saved per month across the Forth Valley prison estate.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This service evaluation demonstrates high levels of patient satisfaction with LAIB in the prison setting, with minimal disruption to patient comfort or behavior even during treatment transition. Provision of LAIB has reduced healthcare hours required to deliver OAT medication in the Forth Valley prison estate, allowing the reprioritization of some healthcare resources toward other health-promoting goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"83-93"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12009042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144027121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Initiation and Dosing of Extended-Release Buprenorphine: A Narrative Review of Emerging Approaches for Patients Who Use Fentanyl.","authors":"Kenneth W Lee, Annabel Mead, Imran Ghauri, Bruce Hollett, Martine Drolet, Jan-Marie Kozicky","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S516138","DOIUrl":"10.2147/SAR.S516138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) who use fentanyl are at high risk of mortality due to opioid-related overdose. While buprenorphine extended-release (BUP-XR) may reduce this risk, there is a need to optimize clinical practice with BUP-XR to overcome barriers to treatment initiation and retention in patients who use fentanyl. Through a narrative review of evidence from peer-reviewed publications and conference abstracts, this article provides an overview of current novel initiation and dosing strategies for BUP-XR in patient populations with confirmed or presumed use of fentanyl. Evidence in this area is rapidly emerging with multiple studies describing BUP-XR initiation prior to 7-day stabilization on transmucosal buprenorphine (TM-BUP). Results from a randomized controlled study indicate that initiating BUP-XR following a single TM-BUP dose is noninferior to standard initiation in terms of treatment retention at injection 2, with similar rates of precipitated withdrawal and adverse events, and this protocol is now included in the approved prescribing information in the USA. While additional \"macro/high-dose\" or \"micro/low-dose\" and \"direct dose\" induction approaches have also been reported, evidence for these is limited to small uncontrolled studies or case reports. Consistent with evidence from studies of TM-BUP, which suggests individuals who use fentanyl may require higher maintenance doses in order to be retained in treatment, administrative and observational data suggests that use of the 300-mg maintenance dose, shortened intervals between doses, and supplemental TM-BUP may be feasible approaches to increase buprenorphine exposure in patients with ongoing symptoms and improve retention. Evidence in this area is rapidly evolving, and many of these strategies are increasingly being adopted clinically and incorporated into clinical guidelines. Further research should incorporate increased sample sizes, broader and more consistent outcome measurement, and increased duration of follow-up to facilitate more robust evaluation of efficacy and safety as well as increase comparability between studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"71-82"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11954470/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143754570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prehospital Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Rapid Review of Implementation Approaches and Outcomes.","authors":"Edward E Denton, Christian Angelo I Ventura","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S511618","DOIUrl":"10.2147/SAR.S511618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the use of prehospital medication-assisted treatment (MAT) administration by Emergency Medical Services for opioid use disorder (OUD) through a review of literature published between 2014-2024. A search of the NCBI repository using selected keywords returned N=28 results; articles meeting the inclusion criteria (n=13) were reviewed and analyzed. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the Chi-squared test and I² statistic. Studies were categorized into two primary domains: implementation and protocols or patient outcomes. Findings suggest that while MAT administration extends on-scene time, it significantly improves patient retention in OUD treatment. However, operational challenges, including geographical disparities in access and racial inequities in retention, limit widespread implementation. This review underscores the consistent safety of prehospital MAT administration, specifically by EMS personnel outside of an emergency department, yet highlights the need for addressing these barriers to optimize its effectiveness as a critical intervention in managing OUD in the prehospital setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"55-69"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11899942/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143617325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alcohol Misuse, Marital Functioning and Marital Instability: An Evidence-Based Review on Intimate Partner Violence, Marital Satisfaction and Divorce.","authors":"Jessica A Kulak, Sarah Cercone Heavey, Leah F Marsack, Kenneth E Leonard","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S462382","DOIUrl":"10.2147/SAR.S462382","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alcohol use is a primarily social behavior, and marriage is an important aspect of social relationships. This article reviews alcohol use and its impact on several facets of the marital relationship, including the impact of alcohol use on intimate partner violence (IPV), marital satisfaction, marital functioning, and divorce. There is considerable evidence of the role alcohol plays in IPV and recent research identifies moderators of the alcohol-IPV relationship. These include personality constructs, social pressure, marital satisfaction, and traits, such as hostility and impulsivity. Marital satisfaction and alcohol use demonstrate bidirectional causality, whereas marital satisfaction predicts alcohol use behaviors, and alcohol use also predicts marital satisfaction. Longitudinal studies provide evidence that divorce is temporally associated with alcohol use, including Alcohol Use Disorder. Finally, there are a number of causative factors that interplay in the dissolution of marriage; alcohol use is one of these factors. Excessive alcohol consumption is a common reason for divorce among many couples. Across all associations between alcohol use and IPV, marital satisfaction, marital functioning, and divorce, sex and gender consistently appear as a moderator in these relationships. Another consistent finding is in respect to concordant drinking, such that marital partners who have similar patterns of alcohol consumption fare better than those with discrepant patterns of consumption. Future research should focus on greater inclusion of same-sex, LGBTQQ+, and socio-culturally diverse couples. Additionally, future studies should use Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM) to effectively examine non-independent partner data.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"39-53"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11830947/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143442008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Alcohol Consumption Among the Youths in Kampala, Uganda. A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Amelia Margaret Namiiro, Ritah Audo, Charity Doreen Nannungi, Ivaan Pitua, Denis Kiberu, Peter Talemwa, Emanuel Mujuni, Alex Lwesabula, Paul Ageimo, Arnold Zephania Khaukha, Moses Jok Kuol, Lazarous Egaru, Malik Koire, Nelson Ssewante","doi":"10.2147/SAR.S497582","DOIUrl":"10.2147/SAR.S497582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased loneliness, emotional stress, and idleness due to job losses and school closures which can drive substance use among vulnerable populations like youths. Uganda has been identified as one of the countries with the highest alcohol consumption in Africa. Alcohol predisposes to a number of health concerns including mental health disorders, cardiovascular diseases among others. This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on alcohol consumption among youths in Kampala, Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative cross-sectional study among randomly selected youth aged 18-35 years living in the five divisions of Kampala. Participation was strictly after informed consent was obtained. 381 youths were interviewed, both students and non-students were included in the study. The AUDIT-C questionnaire was used to measure the frequency and quantity. Frequent was defined as six or more drinks a week.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We enrolled 381 participants in the study with a mean age of 26±4.6 years. More than half (60%) of the participants were male. 71% lived with family during the lockdown. Of the 64% that were employed before the lockdown, 54% lost their jobs. At least 42.5% of the participants reported alcohol consumption during the lockdown. Males consumed twice as much alcohol as females. Generally, the level of alcohol consumption decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic as the percentage of participants consuming alcohol dropped from 47.5% to 42.8%. Despite the overall decrease in the number of participants consuming alcohol, there was an increase in the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed on occasion during the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Fewer youths consumed alcohol during the COVID-19 lockdown in Kampala, Uganda. However, those who did significantly increased their drinking amount and frequency. Male youths, those living with friends, and those with poor self-perceived mental health were more likely to increase their alcohol intake. Further investigation into increased alcohol consumption among youths post-COVID is necessary to understand the extent and long-term health implications.</p>","PeriodicalId":22060,"journal":{"name":"Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation","volume":"16 ","pages":"27-37"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11827487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143433774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}