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.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行期间美国退伍军人饮酒情况的变化

 背景

COVID-19 大流行对全球行为健康产生了相当大的影响。可能特别令人担忧的一个群体是美国退伍军人，他们容易受到心理健康和药物滥用问题的影响。目前的研究旨在调查美国退伍军人在大流行之前和第一年期间饮酒和酗酒的变化，以及大流行前的精神健康障碍，即创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）和COVID-19相关因素如何影响孤独、对 COVID-19 的负面反应和经济困难等影响了饮酒趋势。

 方法

2020 年 2 月，作为一项针对退伍军人健康行为的更大规模调查研究的一部分，招募了 1230 名退伍军人。退伍军人被要求在整个大流行期间的 6、9 和 12 个月完成后续评估。

 结果

总体而言，退伍军人的饮酒量 (IRR = 0.98) 和酗酒量 (IRR = 0.11) 显着下降。然而，女性、少数族裔退伍军人和患有创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 的人的饮酒量和酗酒量下降幅度较小，并且饮酒量下降幅度较小。与男性、白人退伍军人和没有 PTSD 的人相比，总体使用率更高。经济困难和对 COVID-19 的负面反应都与饮酒量和酗酒有关，而孤独感则与饮酒和酗酒呈负相关。

 结论

退伍军人报告称，在整个大流行期间，饮酒和酗酒有所减少，而高风险群体的这些结果存在异质性。应特别研究和临床关注大流行后时期退伍军人的行为健康护理需求。