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Pandemic-related changes in alcohol use among LGB+ people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: a multinational cross-sectional study

Dean J. Connolly (National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK and Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.)
Gail Gilchrist (Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK.)
Jason Ferris (Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.)
Cheneal Puljević (Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.)
Larissa Maier (Global Drug Survey, Jona, Switzerland.)
Monica J. Barratt (Social and Global Studies Centre and Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.)
Adam Winstock (Global Drug Survey, London, UK.)
Emma L. Davies (Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.)

Drugs, Habits and Social Policy

ISSN: 2752-6739

Article publication date: 11 December 2023

Issue publication date: 14 May 2024

39

Abstract

Purpose

Using data from 36,981 respondents to the Global Drug Survey (GDS) COVID-19 Special Edition, this study aims to compare changes, following the first “lockdown,” in alcohol consumption between lesbian, gay, bisexual and other sexual minority (LGB+) and heterosexual respondents with and without lifetime mental health and neurodevelopmental (MHND) conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Characteristics and drinking behavior of respondents to GDS who disclosed their sexual orientation and past 30-day alcohol use were described and compared. LGB+ participants with and without MHND conditions were compared, and logistic regression models identified correlates of increased drinking among LGB+ people. The impact of changed drinking on the lives of LGB+ participants with and without MHND conditions was assessed.

Findings

LGB+ participants who reported that they were “not coping well at all” with the pandemic had twofold greater odds of reporting increased binge drinking. LGB+ participants with MHND conditions were significantly more likely than those without to report increased drinking frequency (18.7% vs 12.4%), quantity (13.8% vs 8.8%) and that changed drinking had impacted their lives.

Originality/value

This study, which has a uniquely large and international sample, explores aspects of alcohol use not considered in other COVID-19 alcohol use research with LGB+ people; and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore alcohol use among LGB+ people with MHND conditions.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors express our gratitude to the media and harm reduction organisations that support Global Drug Survey. Authors also appreciate the time that participants have generously volunteered to complete the survey.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Data availability statement: Global Drug Survey is an independent research company. As such, supporting data are not available.

Disclosure of interest: Adam Winstock is the CEO of Global Drug Survey. The remaining authors report no conflict of interest.

Citation

Connolly, D.J., Gilchrist, G., Ferris, J., Puljević, C., Maier, L., Barratt, M.J., Winstock, A. and Davies, E.L. (2024), "Pandemic-related changes in alcohol use among LGB+ people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: a multinational cross-sectional study", Drugs, Habits and Social Policy, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 97-109. https://doi.org/10.1108/DHS-08-2023-0032

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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