COVID-19 Stressors and Cannabis and Alcohol Use in the Canadian Territories

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and related public health restrictions have been associated with high cannabis and alcohol use among Canadians. Little is known about cannabis and alcohol use in the Canadian territories during the pandemic, despite generally higher substance use rates. This study’s objective was to examine the association between self-reported changes in mental health status and financial stressors resulting from the pandemic on daily/almost daily cannabis use and heavy drinking in the Canadian territories. Methods: This study analyzed data from 993 individuals aged 16 and over residing in the territories collected from September to December 2021 as part of the 2021 Cannabis Policy Study in the Territories. Weighted logistic regression models estimated the association of self-reported mental health status (“worse”/“not worse”) and financial impact (“negative impact”/“no negative impact”) related to the pandemic with daily/almost daily cannabis use (≥5 days per week) and heavy drinking (≥ 4 drinks for women and ≥ 5 drinks for men per occasion at least once a month) in the past 12 months. Models were adjusted for sex, age group, education, perceived income adequacy, territory, ethnicity, living in a capital city, living alone, and having children ≤17 years old. Results: In adjusted models, self-reported worse mental health related to the pandemic had no significant associations with daily/almost daily cannabis use (OR = 1.17, 95% CI:0.72,1.91) and no association with heavy drinking (OR = 1.01, 95% CI:0.63,1.62). Self-reported negative financial impact showed associations above one for daily/almost daily cannabis use (OR = 1.10, 95% CI:0.58,2.08) and with heavy drinking (OR = 1.27, 95% CI:0.75,2.17), though confidence intervals crossed one, indicating no statistical significance. Conclusion: No significant associations were observed between COVID-19 stressors and higher substance use in late 2021. Continued monitoring of the long-term impacts of the pandemic on substance use in the Canadian territories is warranted.