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Citation
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Masonbrink AR, Middlebrooks L, Gooding HC, Abella M, Hall M, Burger RK, Goyal MK. J. Adolesc. Health 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Abstract
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PURPOSE: To assess changes in adolescent visits with substance use disorders (SUDs) at children's hospitals during COVID-19.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adolescents (11-18 years) with SUD diagnoses during a hospital visit in the Pediatric Health Information System. Study periods were defined as spring (03/15-05/31), summer (06/01-08/31), and fall (09/01-12/31), pre-COVID-19 (2017-2019), or during COVID-19 (2020). We summarized the change in weekly median visits and interquartile range (IQR) by characteristics and compared between the two periods (e.g., spring pre-COVID-19 [3/15-05/31/2017-2019] versus spring COVID-19 [3/15-05/31/2020]) using median regression.
RESULTS: There were 42,979 SUD visits (10,697 COVID-19; 32,282 pre-COVID-19) and 256 annual weekly median adolescent SUD visits [IQR 235, 280] pre-COVID-19 and 268 [IQR 245, 278] during COVID-19. The median number of weekly SUD visits increased by 14.3% during summer COVID-19 (median visits, [IQR]: 272 [268, 278]) compared to pre-COVID-19 (median visits: 237, IQR [216, 249]; p <.001) but did not significantly differ in spring (p =.091) or fall (p =.65) COVID-19.
DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest increased problematic adolescent substance use during summer COVID-19. Efforts to increase the identification and treatment of adolescent SUDs remain critical.
Language: en |