Alcohol and drug usage in Northern Ireland increased by 60% during the pandemic, according to new research from Ulster University.
The top reasons for increased usage were ‘boredom’ (94%), feeling anxious or depressed (92%) and social isolation (81%).
The UU research was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Drug and Alcohol Alliance, which co-ordinates co-operation among voluntary and community sector organisations supporting those affected by alcohol and drug use.
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It looked at the impact on people's emotional, physical and mental health during the pandemic and the impact on services.
For 58% of those surveyed, they reported using one drug during the pandemic, but 42% said they used two or more.
Those in the 30-44-years-old age group said being furloughed was a substantial factor in increased usage.
For most of the people surveyed (78%), they said that alcohol had been the main drug that they noticed they were using more of.
The second most reported main drug was cannabis (34%), followed by cocaine or crack cocaine (15%), benzodiazepines (13%) and pregabalin (12%).
With people restricted to their homes, there was a marked increase in the marketing of drugs online, whether through encrypted messaging apps or other social media.
The report also found an increase in injecting and poly-drug use harm, where more than one drug was used.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Julie Harris, Lecturer in Criminology at Ulster University said: "These findings highlight that despite challenges and increased demand for substance use services, voluntary and community providers innovatively adapted services to meet clients immediate and continuing needs.
"However, the findings also make it clear that political, organisational and financial investment across departments and sectors is needed to tackle the continued impacts of increasing drug-related harm in Northern Ireland.
"Collaborative and inter-departmental working is essential to the implementation of the Substance Use Strategy by the Department of Health to mitigate the multi-faceted reasons for problematic substance use and related harm.”
Chair of the Northern Ireland Alcohol and Drug Alliance (NIADA), Pauline Campbell, added: "The findings in this study are extremely important.
"Collaborative working among NIADA members and Ulster University has provided much needed evidence on the issues faced by those who are impacted by substance use.
"This research has also underlined how working together can strengthen the voice of the statutory, voluntary and community sector."
More information on the research and the report can be found here.
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