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Review
. 2023 Aug:52:101640.
doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101640. Epub 2023 Jun 17.

Generation COVID: Young adult substance use

Andrea M Hussong  1 , Amanda K Haik  2 , Hayden M Loeb  2
Affiliations
Review

Generation COVID: Young adult substance use

Andrea M Hussong et al. Curr Opin Psychol. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Opposing theories posited that young adult substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic would decline due to restricted access and social engagement or increase due to efforts to cope with rising distress, loneliness, and isolation. Peer-reviewed global longitudinal studies found (a) overall declines in commonly used substances in 2020 with some rebounding in 2021; (b) individual differences in this pattern, with declines linked to factors limiting access and increases to pre-existing risk; and (c) under-developed evidence to evaluate increased coping-related use. Given potential links between surging mental health disorders and substance use, further surveillance and wider dissemination of substance use programming is needed, particularly for vulnerable individuals and settings.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Substance use; Young adult.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: The first author serves as the chair of the scientific advisory board for the NCANDA study, results from which are highlighted in this article. The authors declare no other competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article.

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