Mental health problems and substance use often co-occurred in Canadian adults during COVID-19
Among nearly 15,000 Canadian adults surveyed during the pandemic, concurrent mental health symptoms and problematic substance use (including cannabis) were common, with specific demographic and behavioral factors increasing risk.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Concurrent poor mental health and problematic substance use were prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study identified demographic and behavioral factors associated with experiencing both simultaneously, suggesting intertwined rather than independent challenges.
Key Numbers
14,897 Canadian adults surveyed across 10 waves (October 2020 to March 2022). Concurrent mental health symptoms and problematic substance use assessed. Associated factors identified.
How They Did This
Repeated nationwide cross-sectional survey of 14,897 Canadian adults (quota-sampled, weighted) recruited on 10 occasions between October 2020 and March 2022 using online panels. Assessed mental health symptoms and problematic substance use concurrence.
Why This Research Matters
The pandemic worsened both mental health and substance use. Understanding who experiences both simultaneously helps target integrated treatment approaches rather than addressing each in isolation.
The Bigger Picture
The co-occurrence of mental health and substance use problems has long been recognized, but the pandemic amplified both. The scale of this Canadian survey provides population-level data on a problem that will persist beyond the pandemic itself.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Online panel recruitment may not be fully representative. Self-reported mental health and substance use. Cross-sectional waves cannot track individual trajectories. "Problematic" substance use defined by survey criteria, not clinical diagnosis. Pandemic context may limit generalizability.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are the pandemic-era patterns of concurrent mental health and substance problems persisting post-pandemic?
- ?Would integrated screening approaches improve identification and treatment?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 14,897 Canadians surveyed; concurrent mental health and substance problems prevalent during COVID
- Evidence Grade:
- Large repeated national survey with quota sampling and weighting. Cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Data from October 2020 to March 2022.
- Original Title:
- Concurrent Experience of Self-Reported Mental Health Symptoms and Problematic Substance Use During the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Canadian Adults: Evidence from a Repeated Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey.
- Published In:
- International journal of environmental research and public health, 21(12) (2024)
- Authors:
- Ahmed, Md Sabbir, Bartram, Mary(2), Gabrys, Robert(9), Mela, Mansfield, Muhajarine, Nazeem
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05067
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did the pandemic make substance use and mental health worse together?
This study found concurrent mental health symptoms and problematic substance use were common among Canadian adults during the pandemic. The co-occurrence suggests these problems are intertwined rather than independent, consistent with pre-pandemic evidence that mental health and substance use challenges often reinforce each other.
Who was most affected?
The study identified demographic and behavioral factors associated with concurrent problems. While specific predictors were identified, the broad finding is that the pandemic created conditions where many people experienced both mental health deterioration and increased substance use simultaneously.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05067APA
Ahmed, Md Sabbir; Bartram, Mary; Gabrys, Robert; Mela, Mansfield; Muhajarine, Nazeem. (2024). Concurrent Experience of Self-Reported Mental Health Symptoms and Problematic Substance Use During the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Canadian Adults: Evidence from a Repeated Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 21(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121644
MLA
Ahmed, Md Sabbir, et al. "Concurrent Experience of Self-Reported Mental Health Symptoms and Problematic Substance Use During the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Canadian Adults: Evidence from a Repeated Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey.." International journal of environmental research and public health, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121644
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Concurrent Experience of Self-Reported Mental Health Symptom..." RTHC-05067. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ahmed-2024-concurrent-experience-of-selfreported
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.