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Frequent Binge Drinking Linked With Higher COVID-19 Rates Among Young Women
Women in their mid-20s who engaged in frequent binge drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to be more likely to become infected with COVID-19, according to new research from Rutgers University.
Findings from the study were published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Heightened risk for COVID-19 while binge drinking—having 4 or more drinks in 1 sitting—could be attributed to several factors, including being less vigilant in using preventive behaviors, such social distancing, while intoxicated, study corresponding author Tammy Chung, professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Population Behavioral Health at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, said in a news release.
The study examined 7 subgroups of women who showed similar patterns before and during the pandemic, including:
- Low substance use
- Occasional binge drinking
- Cannabis use
- Cigarette or e-cigarette use and binge drinking
- Occasional binge drinking and cannabis
- Binge drinking and cannabis
- Polysubstance use
Characteristics associated with patterns of substance use—such as socioeconomic status, COVID-19 infection status, and COVID-19 impacts on mental health and financial situations—were also studied.
Profiles associated with more frequent binge drinking were more likely to report COVID-19 infection. Conversely, profiles associated with the “cannabis use” category had a lower infection prevalence. “Polysubstance use,” meanwhile was linked with higher rates of COVID-related depression and income loss on average compared to those in the “low use” category, however the polysubstance use patient population still had a lower-than-anticipated self-reported COVID-19 infection rate.
Lastly, the study found that young Black and White women between the ages of 25 and 28 who reported binge drinking had the highest reported rates of COVID-19 infection among the subgroups evaluated in the study.
“The identified profiles can inform tailored intervention to address disparities associated with risk for COVID-19 infection and its intersection with specific patterns of substance use (cigarette/e-cig, alcohol, cannabis), among young women to guide more personalized public health response,” the researchers wrote. “Specifically, women who report polysubstance use warrant intervention not only for substance use, but also would benefit from a range of services to address depression and anxiety, and job/income loss.
“The differential patterns of change across substances in some profiles highlight the importance of targeted intervention to meet specific needs.”
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