TRENDS IN SUBSTANNCE ABUSE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

This article analyses the new trends in substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on how worldwide lockdowns, social distancing, and heightened psychological distress led to changes in patterns of substance use. The pandemic worsened underlying mental health conditions and interrupted access to treatment services, resulting in increased use of alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit substances, especially among vulnerable groups. Through a review of recent literature and data, the present study recognizes critical psychosocial determinants of substance abuse amid the crisis and calls for adaptive public health measures and mental health care in post-pandemic recovery.