The Consequential Increase of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse During Covid- Its Causes and Implications

Covid-19 is not just a virus which is risking human lives everyday, but it is a phenomenon which has inflicted major changes on the long-term global survival and economic strategies. The pandemic has brought about major diversions in the world order, which philosophers and scientists have predicted to occur once in a century’s time. Covid-19 has also affected the personal health, physical and psychological of all human beings. It has forced people to change their social behaviors significantly, which has had consequential effect on their mental health. One significant result of the pandemic is the increased consumption of alcohol and other psychoactive substances among people. As people are forced to lock themselves up inside their homes, some have resorted to exercising, biking, running, and meditation to maintain sanity, while others have boosted their addictive behavior by consuming more alcohol and drugs to make staying-indoors more entertaining. Nielsen has reported a 54% rise in the national consumption of alcohol on the week of March 21st 2020, as compared to the same in 2019. The online sales of alcohol have also risen enormously from 2019 to 2020. The study aims to address the problem of increased alcoholism and substance abuse during Covid-19 by understanding the causes of this rise. The method is based on analysis and comparison of available survey reports, to find out exactly what amount of human consumption has increased during the pandemic. From the findings we can conclude that alcoholism and substance abuse has risen significantly during Covid-19, and psychological distress, anxiety and depression can be some major causes for this abnormal social behavior. It can also be implied that this increased alcoholism is likely to affect the physical health, neural and social behavior, and the work life of many human beings through the pandemic.

PERCORRENDO CAMINHOS: ITINERÁRIO TERAPÊUTICO DE MULHERES USUÁRIAS DE ÁLCOOL E/OU OUTRAS DROGAS DURANTE CICLO GRAVÍDICO-PUERPERAL

Pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care is provided in accordance with gestational risk factors, such as use of alcohol and/or other drugs by pregnant women. The objective of this study was to trace the therapeutic itinerary of pregnant women who use alcohol and/or other drugs in the health network of a city in the Mid-North of the state of Paraná. This is a qualitative, exploratory study conducted through individual interviews. Firstly, the therapeutic itineraries were built, then the speeches were analyzed in accordance with Bardin and discussed with the aid of current literature. Regarding the therapeutic itinerary, the interviewees accessed primary care, high-risk prenatal care, and hospital services. The results identified two categories: Considerations on the use of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy, and Strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare network’s points of attention. From the statements, probable biological and social implications of using psychoactive substances during pregnancy emerged, such as complications during gestation, fetal alterations, and loss of legal rights over children. As for the points of attention, the importance of multidisciplinarity and the role of nursing were highlighted. On the other hand, the network’s disarticulation and professionals’ inability, represented by inappropriate comments and lack of guidance, appear as weakness. It was concluded that it is necessary to provide comprehensive follow-up to pregnant and postpartum women who use alcohol and drugs, with the articulation of the healthcare network and professionals free from judgment to provide a care that meets their biopsychosocial demands.

PRINCIPAL'S PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS' USE OF BORN BY PISA 2018

The main objective of this study is to answer the following questions. Is there a relationship between the principal's perception of the use of liquor by students with sports teams, school drama / music groups, and band / choir groups based on PISA 2018. The research method used is quantitative method. The data in this study uses PISA 2018 data that has been released to the public and has been permitted to be used for research development purposes. The population of this study were principals in schools where 15-year-old students were studying in 2018, while the sample was principals in schools where 15-year-old students took PISA tests in 80 countries. The reason for choosing the sample was the principal in the school where the student was taking the 2018 PISA test. The data in this study were in the form of a questionnaire that was answered by principals in 80 countries, namely 20811 principals from 80 countries. Based on the results of the multiple regression analysis, the results show that there is a relationship between the principal's perception of the use of alcohol by students with sports teams, school drama / music groups, and band / choir groups based on PISA 2018 (P <0.000). The reliability of the instrument is 1.00 higher than the reliability of the person = 0.04. The conclusion is that statistically there is a relationship between the principal's perception of the use of alcohol by students with sports teams, school drama / music groups, and band / choir groups based on PISA 2018. These results indicate that the lower the use of alcohol and drugs in students at school, the more successful the school sports team, school drama/music group, and school band/choir group or vice versa.

Factors influencing COVID-19 Infection in older individuals: History of Alcohol Use Disorder, Major Depressive illness, genetic variation and current use of alcohol

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a major public health problem. Vulnerable populations include older individuals with presumed weakening of the immune response. Identification of factors influencing COVID-19 infection could provide an additional means for protecting such individuals.MethodsMembers of a family study previously interviewed as middle aged individuals were re-contacted and asked to participate in extended phone interview (2-3 hours) covering past and current mental health issues, physical health diagnoses, use of alcohol and drugs, and exposure to anyone with COVID-19. The average follow-up period was 32 years. Detailed medication use was collected to confirm medical diagnoses and to reveal possible protective effects of particular drug classes currently prescribed for the participant by their physician. Serology was available for red cell antigens (ABO, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, Rhesus) and HLA subtypes. Analyses were conducted to contrast COVID-19 + and COVID-19 - individuals for physical and mental health diagnoses, use of alcohol and drugs, and red cell and HLA serology. Additionally, analyses were conducted to contrast these groups with a group reporting known exposure but absence of COVID-19 symptoms or diagnosis by a health professional.ResultsInterviews were completed between September 2020 and November 2021. A total of 42 of the 90 individuals interviewed had been vaccinated at the time of interview. At the time of interview, 11.1% reported having developed COVID-19.Using quantity per occasion (QPO) and quantity by frequency (QXF) totals in the past month by type of alcohol consumed, we found a significant association between QPO for liquor (p=0.017) and marginal effects for QXF for liquor consumption (p=0.06). Exposed individuals who were COVID-19 negative tended to drink more liquor than those who were positive, an average of about one drink per day. Beer and wine consumption were not statistically significant. A diagnosis of alcohol use disorder at baseline evaluation was not a significant predictor of being COVID positive or negative.Self-reported current depression or depression in the past only was not a predictor of COVID-19 status based on a single question “Are you depressed currently or only in the past?”. In contrast, completion of a clinical interview designed to elicit depressed mood and concurrent symptoms for determination of the lifetime presence or absence of a depressive episode did reveal a significant effect. Comparison of responses at baseline to follow-up showed those most resilient to developing COVID-19 were those without evidence of a depressive episode by lifetime history at both points in time.Physical health issues were analyzed for those that were frequently occurring in our sample such as hypertension but not found to be significant. BMI was analyzed and found to be statistically non-significant.Analysis of HLA variation across the whole sample did not reveal a significant association but among males two variants, A1 and B8, did show significant variation associated with COVID-19+ and COVID-19-status. Analyses of the red cell antigens revealed one significant red cell effect; Kidd genotypic variation was associated with COVID-19 status.InterpretationWe tentatively conclude that use of specific types of alcohol, namely liquor, is associated with reduced frequency of COVID-19. However, the amount is low, averaging about 1 drink per day. Enlarged samples are needed to confirm these results. The finding that past history of alcohol use disorder does not increase likelihood of developing COVID-19 is important. It should be noted that the 34 individuals diagnosed with AUD at baseline had survived an average of 32 years in order to participate in the current interview suggesting they may be especially resilient to adverse health conditions. The finding that a single question designed to elicit the presence or absence of depressed mood either currently or in the past was not a risk factor for COVID-19 in contrast to report of a clinically significant past history of a depressive episode based on more extensive examination using DSM criteria is important. Results for the KIDD blood group are novel and warrant further investigation.

Money used in gaming is associated with problem gambling: Results of the ESPAD 2019 Finland

Background and aims The convergence of gaming and gambling may pose a risk for adolescents. Thus, it is important to find out how these behaviours are associated with other addictive behaviours in order to develop efficient preventive measures for youth. The aim of this study was to examine 1) whether problematic gaming and money used for gaming activities are risk factors for gambling, and 2) what kind of impact adolescents’ substance use along with other factors related to friends and parents have on this association. Methods The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs data, 2019 of Finnish adolescents aged 15 to 16 (N = 4595). Cross-tabulations with Rao-Scott’s chisquare tests were applied to study the associations of the background factors with gambling in the past 12 months. A multinomial logistic regression model was fitted for the outcome variable (gambling in the past 12 months) adjusted for all independent and background variables. Results Problematic gaming alone was not associated with gambling participation, whereas using money for digital games increased the risk of gambling. Boys gamble more than girls. The use of alcohol and drugs increased the risk of gambling. Parental monitoring reduced the risk of gambling, whereas hanging around weekly with friends increased the risk. Discussion and conclusions Using money on gaming sites may put some adolescents at risk of developing problems with either gaming or gambling. The link between using money in digital games and gambling participation calls for preventive measures, intervention and regulatory acts.

PERAN PEMERINTAH DESA DALAM PENANGGULANGAN KEJAHATAN (Studi Di Desa Nowa Kecamatan Woja Kabupaten Dompu)

Crime is a bad act, derived from the word evil which means very bad, very bad, very bad, while juridically crime is defined as an act that violates the law or is prohibited by law in the first problem research what is the cause of crime in Indonesia? Nowa Village, Woja District, Dompu Regency and how is the role of the nowa village government in overcoming crimes such as gambling, conflict and other crimes. The purpose of this study was to find out how the role of the village government in overcoming crime in the village of Nowa, Woja sub-district, Dompu district and the factors that influence the occurrence of crime in Nowa Village, Woja District, Dompu Regency, this study used empirical research methods using the approach of legislation, sociology and cases. The results showed that the role of the village government in tackling crime in the nowa village was to carry out socialization at the hamlet level and strengthen coordination between agencies, both from the village government and law enforcement officers (police) and the factor that influenced the occurrence of crime in nowa village was the level of youth promiscuity. , Brutal Archery, Rampant Distribution of Alcohol and Drugs, Legal Gambling, and Brawls Between Youth.

Does substance use by family members and community affect the substance use among adolescent boys? Evidence from UDAYA study, India

Background Substance use among adolescents is risky behavior that had emerged as a concern in both developed and developing countries. Evidence revealed that substance use is more frequent among those adolescents whose immediate family members (parents, siblings and grandparents) also indulge in such consumption; however, scarce literature is present in the Indian context. Therefore, the present study examined whether substance use among family members and in the community is associated with the substance use behavior of adolescent boys in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Method We used the data for 5969 adolescent boys aged 10–19 years from the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) survey conducted in 2016. A three-level random intercept logit model was utilized to understand the association of adolescent substance use behavior with familial and community context. Results We found that 16% of adolescent boys were using any substance (tobacco or alcohol or drug). The substance use was significantly higher among adolescent boys who were school dropouts (40%) than those who were currently in school. The prevalence of substance use is also high among those who were working (35%). Moreover, 19, 24 and 28% of the adolescents come from families where at least one of the family members consumed tobacco, alcohol and drugs, respectively. The odds of substance use were 2.13 times [CI:1.44–3.17] higher among those adolescent boys whose family members also indulged in substance use. Moreover, the likelihood of substance use was 1.24 times [CI:1.01–1.68] higher among the adolescent boys who come from a community with high substance use. Additionally, the risk of substance use is more likely among adolescent boys belonging to the same household of the same community. Conclusion It is evident that exposure to substance use in the family and community increases the likelihood of substance use among adolescent boys. There is a need for household- and community-level programmatic interventions to alleviate the risk of substance use among adolescents.

Emerging Comorbidities in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Eating Disorders, Alcohol and Narcotics Misuse

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and potentially devastating condition of the digestive tract which is exemplified by increasing prevalence worldwide, byzantine pathogenesis with a poorly defined role of the environmental factors, and complex clinical demonstration. As a systemic disease, IBD may progress with a wide spectrum of extraintestinal manifestations (EMs) and comorbidities affecting different organs and systems, from anaemia, undernutrition, and cancer to those which are often neglected like anxiety and depression. Evolving IBD epidemiology and changing environment are reflected by an expanding list of IBD-related comorbidities. In contrast to the well-established role of smoking the connection between alcohol and IBD is still debatable on many levels, from pathogenesis to complications. Furthermore, little is known about narcotics use in IBD patients, even if there are obvious factors that may predispose them to narcotics as well as alcohol misuse. Last but not least, the question arises what is the prevalence of eating disorders in IBD. In our paper, we aimed to discuss the current knowledge on alcohol and drugs misuse and eating disorders as emerging extraintestinal comorbidities in IBD.

Recreational Motorized Vehicle Use Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Significantly Increases Odds of Craniofacial Injury

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Objective: Concurrent substance-use, including alcohol and drugs, increases the risks of many recreational activities. Our purpose was to determine the relationship between substance use and craniofacial injuries in a large population of patients experiencing trauma due to recreational motorized vehicle use. Methods: We report a cross-sectional study of patients reported to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, in the United States. Patients were included in our study if they were evaluated in the emergency department (ED) for a recreational motorized vehicle-related injury. Primary outcome was craniofacial injury. Results: There were a total of 6,485 adult patients who experience an injury after recreational motorized vehicle trauma reported by NEISS-participating EDs during the study period. Of this, 1,416 (21.8%) patients had a craniofacial injury, and 201 patients with craniofacial injuries were under the influence of alcohol/drugs (201/1,416; 14.2%). Injured patients under the influence of alcohol/drugs experienced greater odds of sustaining a general craniofacial injury (OR 2.50, 95% CI: 2.07-3.01, P < .0001), including craniofacial fracture (OR: 2.98, 95% CI: 2.01-4.40, P < .0001), laceration (OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.51-3.16, P < .00001) and internal injury (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.84-2.95, P < .00001) than injured patients not under the influence. Conclusions: Using recreational motorized vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not safe and increases the likelihood of craniofacial injuries, including fractures, lacerations, and internal injuries. As operating these recreational motorized vehicles under the influence is illegal, the law should be strictly enforced to prevent the occurrence of these injuries. Additional undertakings to increase helmet usage would be valuable.