Substance abuse among new patients attending main government hospitals in Malaysia from 2018-2021: A comparison between before and during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

Substance abuse admission to health facilities following the pandemic is often met with challenges. COVID-19 is causing an insurmountable psychosocial impact on the whole of mankind. Marginalized communities, particularly those with substance use disorders (SUDs), are also likely to suffer from greater psychosocial burden.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to evaluate substance abuse trends before and during the pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending selected government hospitals in Malaysia. Data from the year 2018 to 2021 was utilized.

RESULTS

A total of 9,606 patients consisting of 7881 males and 1725 females were identified. Most of the patients involved with substance abuse from 2018 to 2021 were males, aged between 26 and 44 years old, Malays, high school students, singles, workers of private sectors and those residing in urban areas. The most abused substances over the four years were tobacco (61.8%), followed by amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) (43.1%), alcohol (39.7%), cannabis (17.2%), opioids (13.0%), and kratom (8.8%). Those who worked in the private sector and were self-employed or unemployed were more associated with substance abuse during the pandemic compared to those who worked in the government sector. Those with a history of psychiatric illness were more associated with abuse of substances during the pandemic than those without the history (adjusted OR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.29, p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted exploration of factors affecting substance abuse in Malaysia is essential. The results of this study assist in identifying variations in substance abuse treatment characteristics for those admitted to treatment in Malaysia.