The COVID-19 pandemic and the use of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-related drugs in Estonia: an interrupted time-series analysis

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges that worsened people’s mental health. We explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being of the population, as indicated by the prevalence rates of benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine-related drug (BDZ) use. Methods This population‐based, time‐series analysis included all prescriptions of BDZs dispensed in Estonia between 2012 and 2021. The monthly prevalence rates of BDZ use were calculated. Autoregressive integrated moving average models with pulse and slope intervention functions tested for temporary and long-term changes in monthly prevalence rates after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Throughout the 10-year study period, a total of 5,528,911 BDZ prescriptions were dispensed to 397,436 individuals. A significant temporary increase in the overall prevalence rate of BDZ use in March 2020 (2.698 users per 1000, 95% CI 1.408–3.988) was observed, but there was no statistically significant long-term change. This temporary increase affected all the examined subgroups, except for new users, individuals aged 15–29 years, and prescribing specialists other than general practitioners and psychiatrists. The long-term increase in BDZ use was confined to females aged 15–29 years (0.056 users per 1000 per month, 95% CI 0.033–0.079), while no significant change was observed among males of the same age (0.009 users per 1000 per month, 95% CI – 0.017 to 0.035). Among females aged 15–29 years, a significant long-term increase in BDZ use was observed for anxiety disorders (0.017 users per 1000 per month, 95% CI 0.010–0.023), depressive disorders (0.021 users per 1000 per month, 95% CI 0.012–0.030), and other mental and behavioral disorders (0.020 users per 1000 per month, 95% CI 0.010–0.030), but not for sleep disorders (– 0.008 users per 1000 per month, 95% CI – 0.018–0.002). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic led to a short-term increase in BDZ use immediately after the pandemic was declared. In the long term, young females experienced a sustained increase in BDZ use. The prolonged effect on girls and young women suggests their greater vulnerability. These results underscore the need to effectively address the long-term effects of the pandemic among youth.