Drug Use Disorder and Coping Mechanisms Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Measures: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Salah Al Awaidy, Mahmood Z. Al Abri, Sitwat Usman Langrial, Samir Al Adawi, Iman Al Hasani, Ronald Wesonga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented substance abuse disorder patients with numerous obstacles. There is a scarcity of data on drug use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in Arab nations. This study aimed to identify behavioural changes and factors associated with the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic measures among people with substance use disorders in Oman. METHODS: Survey data on demographic and behavioural factors from a sample of 61 persons with substance use disorder who were admitted to a specialised hospital were studied. Changes in behaviour related to substance use due to the COVID-19 pandemic measures were investigated using potential demographic and modifiable factors. For the specific study evaluation, the variables studied included age, family size, marital status, employment status, suicidal thoughts, and ways of substance abuse, family responsibilities, hospitalisation tendency, and change of behaviour. RESULTS: On average, the participants were 31.5 (SD= 6.82, Range: 16-48) years old. The study findings show that the consumption of morphine as the main drug compared to others (OR = 0.03, p=0.003) resulted in a reduction in the odds of feeling increased effects of COVID-19 among individuals with substance use disorder. Furthermore, the increase in effects was significant among the participants who opted to be hospitalised to reduce drug use (OR=9.97, _p_=0.017) and those who took overdoses (OR=8.17, _p_=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that due to the measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with drug use disorders switched to different types of drugs, such as morphine, to reduce the effects of the measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, people with drug use disorders who took overdoses and those hospitalised were more associated with increased effects of COVID-19. The implication of the study findings is that outreach and community-based services should be made more accessible for people with drug use disorders, since this could relieve effects due to a pandemic, as was the case with COVID-19.
Original languageEnglish
JournalQeios
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

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