Evaluation of substance use in Izmir during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Substance use can vary in extraordinary periods, such as natural disasters and epidemics. This study scrutinized the toxicological test results of the people who used different types of substances during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic period in Izmir. Methods Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, extreme security measures were implemented in March, April, and May of 2020, and the lockdown was imposed at different levels. The patients who were urine tested for illegal substances were also investigated from the point of the socio-demographic characteristics and clinical data. Results Thirty-six percent of the cases (n = 32) were positive for illegal substances in urinalysis. These substances were: 60% (n = 12) amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), 20% (n = 4) benzodiazepine, 10% (n = 2) cannabis, 5% (n = 1) buprenorphine, 5% (n = 1) cocaine. Multiple substance use observed in 12 cases. Conclusions When the pandemic period data were compared with the previous years, the drug test positive rate in the same periods of 2017 and 2018 was 25.9% and 23.9%, respectively. However, this rate increased to 36% during the pandemic period in 2020. In 2017 and 2018, cannabis was the most frequently found substance in the urine on testing with the rate of 41.5% (n = 184) and 50.8% (n = 219), respectively, it was ATS with 60% (n = 2) in 2020.