Shifts in cannabis use at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among Global Drug Survey respondents from 13 countries
Drugs, Habits and Social Policy
ISSN: 2752-6739
Article publication date: 6 June 2023
Issue publication date: 12 September 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic likely impacted cannabis distribution, access and usage worldwide. This study aims to describe self-reported changes in cannabis use and related outcomes following COVID-19-related restrictions among an international sample of people who use drugs.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from the Global Drug Survey COVID-19 Special Edition, the authors identified 20,417 respondents from 13 countries who reported whether the number of THC-containing cannabis usage days changed compared with February 2020 (before COVID-19 restrictions). Using descriptive statistics and a multinomial multivariable logistic regression, the authors investigated the impact of changes in cannabis use on respondents’ mental health, physical health, relationships, finances, work/study performance and cannabis-related pleasure/enjoyment.
Findings
Similar proportions of respondents reported that their cannabis use had stayed the same (38.2%) or increased (38.3%) compared with February 2020, while 21.9% of respondents reported a decrease. The most common reason for increased use was having more time (68.4%), while decreased use was associated with having less contact with people they use cannabis with (58.4%). The likelihood of reporting worse mental and physical health, finances, and work/study performance following COVID-19 restrictions was highest among those who reported increased cannabis use.
Research limitations/implications
These findings provide a unique understanding of the short-term international impact of initial COVID-19 restrictions on cannabis use, and highlight the need for policy to address the ongoing and improved provision of evidence-based mental health and other support for people who frequently use cannabis.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the world’s largest international study exploring the impacts of these changes in cannabis use following initial COVID-19 restrictions on individuals’ mental health, physical health, relationships, finances, work/study performance and cannabis-related pleasure. This study is also unique in comparing these changes across multiple continents.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Declarations of competing interest: Adam Winstock is the founder and owner of the Global Drug Survey (GDS). No other competing interests to declare.
Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study received ethics approval from University College London (11671/001). All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000(5). Informed consent was obtained from all respondents for being included in the study.
Consent for publication: Not applicable.
Availability of data and materials: The data sets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. Dr Cheneal Puljević’s salary was supported by a Research Support Package from The University of Queensland.
Authors’ contributions: Cheneal Puljević: Conceptualization, Writing – Original Draft, Supervision, Project administration; Amelia Cossart: Software, Formal analysis, Writing- Original Draft; Emma L. Davies: Writing – Review & Editing; Monica J. Barratt: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Writing – Review & Editing; Larissa J. Maier: Writing – Review & Editing; Marie Jauffret-Roustide: Writing – Review & Editing; Adam R. Winstock: Conceptualization, Writing – Review & Editing; Jason A. Ferris: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Formal analysis, Writing – Review & Editing; Supervision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank our respondents and the members of the GDS Expert Advisory Group and wider International Partner Network. In addition, we would like to thank everyone who helped translate and promote the survey, especially our global media partners. Special thanks to Chris Parsons and Ahnjili Zhuparris for their invaluable assistance in running the GDS survey and producing our annual key findings report.
Citation
Puljević, C., Cossart, A., Davies, E.L., Barratt, M.J., Maier, L.J., Jauffret-Roustide, M., Winstock, A.R. and Ferris, J.A. (2023), "Shifts in cannabis use at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among Global Drug Survey respondents from 13 countries", Drugs, Habits and Social Policy, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 145-161. https://doi.org/10.1108/DHS-12-2022-0048
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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