Covid-19 and substance consumption: A narrative review of available evidence

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic, the etiologic agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has had sanitary, socioeconomic and psychosocial consequences associated to greater levels of anxiety, stress and emotional alterations on general population. An increase in substance consumption in the general population is presumed, as well as problematic consumption. In this line, people with substance use disorder constitute a more vulnerable population to the impact of the pandemic, especially in lockdown. We conducted a systematic search in the main databases about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on substance consumption, performing a narrative synthesis of the available evidence based on the main substances addressed by the publications. We discuss the trends of alcohol, tobacco, opioids and cannabis consumption, and the recommendations regarding follow-up and therapeutic support. Mostly, the level of the evidence of the articles included is low, since they correspond to expert opinions and exploratory observational studies. Most of the conclusions derive from the extrapolation of data obtained during infectious outbreaks of previous forms of coronavirus. We suggest conducting primary studies on substance consumption and maintaining the clinical surveillance of people with substance use disorders in the post-pandemic period.