https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Davis2021

Davis, J. P., Prindle, J., Castro, C. C., Saba, S., Fitzke, R. E., & Pedersen, E. R. (2021). Changes in alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic among American veterans. Addictive Behaviors, 122, Article 107052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107052

With a sample of 1,230 Veterans, this study examined changes in alcohol use and binge drinking (i.e., men drinking 5+ drinks daily, women drinking 4+ drinks daily) prior to and throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection began February 2020 and follow-up data were collected 6, 9, and 12 months later. Analyses accounted for personal factors (e.g., sex, race, economic hardship), mental health factors (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], combat exposure), and negative reactions to COVID-19 (e.g., stress and sleep problems). Generally, Veterans reported linear decreases in alcohol use and binge drinking, but women, racial minorities, and those with PTSD experienced smaller decreases compared to men, White Veterans, and those without PTSD.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107052

Substance use
Veterans
Mental health
Trauma
Child maltreatment

Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy
Multiple branches

Veteran

Veteran

Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Quantitative Study
Longitudinal Study

Davis, Jordan P., Prindle, John, Castro, Carl C., Saba, Shaddy, Fitzke, Reagan E., Pedersen, Eric R.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had considerable behavioral health implications globally. One subgroup that may be of particular concern is U.S. veterans, who are susceptible to mental health and substance use concerns. The current study aimed to investigate changes in alcohol use and binge drinking before and during the first year of the pandemic among U.S. veterans, and how pre-pandemic mental health disorders, namely posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and COVID-19-related factors like loneliness, negative reactions to COVID-19, and economic hardship influenced alcohol use trends. Methods 1230 veterans were recruited in February 2020 as part of a larger survey study on veteran health behaviors. Veterans were asked to complete follow-up assessments throughout the pandemic at 6, 9, and 12- months. Results Overall, veterans reported a significant decrease in alcohol use (IRR = 0.98) and binge drinking (IRR = 0.11) However, women, racial/ethnic minority veterans, and those with pre-existing PTSD exhibited smaller decreases in alcohol use and binge drinking and overall higher rates of use compared to men, White veterans, and those without PTSD. Both economic hardship and negative reactions to COVID-19 were associated with greater alcohol and binge drinking whereas loneliness showed a negative association with alcohol use and binge drinking. Conclusions Veterans reported decreases in alcohol use and binge drinking throughout the pandemic, with heterogeneity in these outcomes noted for higher risk groups. Special research and clinical attention should be given to the behavioral health care needs of veterans in the post-pandemic period.

Elsevier

Article
REACH Publication

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Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, USC Center for Mindfulness Science, USC Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, SS
Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, JP
Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, CCC
University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, REF
University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, ERP