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.
Public health officials, mental health clinicians, addiction services, and pandemic health impact researchers.
14,897 Canadians surveyed; concurrent mental health and substance problems prevalent during COVID
What the researchers 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.
Why it 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 numbers in context
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 the study worked
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.
What this study cannot 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.
How to read the evidence
Large repeated national survey with quota sampling and weighting. Cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
When this study was published
Published 2023. Data from October 2020 to March 2022.
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.
Questions still open
- Are the pandemic-era patterns of concurrent mental health and substance problems persisting post-pandemic? Would integrated screening approaches improve identification and treatment?
Common questions
Did the pandemic make substance use and mental health worse together?
Who was most affected?
Read the original research
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)
Citation
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
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