Changes in emerging adults' alcohol and cannabis use from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a prospective birth cohort.

OBJECTIVE

Prospective research is needed to better-understand changes in substance use from before to during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, among emerging adults (18-25 years), a high-risk group for substance use.

METHOD

= 1,096 (weighted sample = 1,080; 54% female) participants enrolled in the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, who completed prepandemic (2019; 21 years) and COVID-19 (mid-March to mid-June 2020) surveys. COVID-19-related and preexisting factors were examined as moderators of change in substance use.

RESULTS

Full sample analyses revealed decreased binge drinking ( < .001, Bayes factor [BF] = 22, Cohen's ² = 0.02), but no changes in alcohol and cannabis use. Stratified analyses revealed emerging adults who reported < monthly use prepandemic increased their alcohol use ( < .001, BF > 150, ² = 0.05) and binge drinking ( < .001, BF = 27, ² = 0.01), but not their cannabis use. Conversely, emerging adults who reported >monthly use prepandemic decreased their binge drinking ( < .001, BF > 150, ² = .12) and cannabis use ( < .001, BF > 150, ² = .06), but did not change their alcohol use frequency. Several factors moderated change in substance use, including employment loss ( = .005, BF > 39, ² = .03) and loneliness ( = .018, BF > 150, ² = .10) during COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in alcohol and cannabis use frequency among emerging adults in the first 3 months of COVID-19 largely differed according to prepandemic substance use, COVID-19-related factors, and preexisting factors. While some youth with preexisting vulnerabilities (e.g., more frequent substance use prepandemic) remained stable or decreased their substance use during COVID-19, emerging adults who experienced employment loss, loneliness, and financial concerns during COVID-19 increased their substance use, highlighting the need for increased supports for vulnerable populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).