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. 2021 Jun:92:103053.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103053. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Medication and substance use increases among people using cannabis medically during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kevin F Boehnke  1 , Jenna McAfee  2 , Joshua M Ackerman  3 , Daniel J Kruger  4
Affiliations

Medication and substance use increases among people using cannabis medically during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kevin F Boehnke et al. Int J Drug Policy. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic strains the medical system, limiting access to healthcare services. Many people use cannabis medically for chronic health conditions and as a substitute for other medications. As such, changes in cannabis access associated with COVID-19 may result in increased non-cannabis drug use.

Methods: We recruited N = 353 individuals through Amazon Mechanical Turk who reported current medical cannabis use in April and May of 2020. We assessed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of medication and substance use, as well as on cannabis use patterns.

Results: Over half of participants either started using or increased use of medications or substances because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most commonly alcohol and sleep aids. Over a third of participants increased cannabis use while 25% decreased cannabis use. Approximately 40% of participants who increased or started use of medications/substances (other than cannabis) reported doing so because of changed access to medical cannabis.

Conclusion: The reported increase in drug use among people using medical cannabis is concerning. Because the pandemic will likely continue for months (or even years), having a better understanding of why this is occurring is critical for developing effective harm-reduction strategies in this population.

Keywords: Alcohol; Covid-19; Drug use; Medical cannabis; Substitution.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations of Interest Drs. McAfee, Ackerman, and Kruger declare no conflicts of interest. Dr. Boehnke currently sits on a data safety monitoring board for an ongoing study with Vireo Health (unpaid). The cost of this research was covered by discretionary funds from the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentage of participants who indicated that they had started or started use of medications (prescription or over the counter) and substances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 32.3% started use of a drug, and 47.5% increased their use of a drug.
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