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Disasters of many kinds are associated with higher rates of distress and addictive behaviors. To learn more about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers surveyed 6416 Chinese individuals (47% men; mean age, 28) on an e-commerce website and other online forums during the week of March 24–31, 2020.
Of the respondents, 4.3% scored in the severe Internet addiction range, per a validated questionnaire. Almost half of the participants recalled that Internet dependence increased from the start of pandemic. Increased alcohol drinking and smoking, since the pandemic began, were reported by 32% of regular drinkers and 20% of regular smokers, also by recall. Although only 1% of the respondents initiated alcohol, and 1% initiated cigarette use, 19% of ex-drinkers and 25% of ex-smokers reported relapsing during the pandemic. By contrast, only 3% of regular drinkers and 8% of regular smokers quit.
Sun Y et al. Brief report: Increased addictive internet and substance use behavior during the COVID19 pandemic in China. Am J Addict 2020 Jul; 29:268. (https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13066)
Comment
Self-reported severe Internet addiction was 23% higher than in a separate sample of 340 participants surveyed in October 2019. The increase in severity is not surprising given the widespread stay-at-home orders throughout China. Social distancing might have helped reduce certain cues for substance use, but stress and social isolation might also have increased addictive behavior; of the people with alcohol or smoking histories, more relapsed than quit. In this era of limited access to care for addictive disorders (especially 12-step meetings and group-based treatment) because of efforts to prevent virus spread, and where job loss and economic strife may increase, providers need to be alert to changes in their patients.