Use of Psychoactive Substances during COVID-19 in Republic of North Macedonia

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest health crisis of our time. The aim of paper is to present the results related to the use of the illicit drugs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from the perspective of users.

Materials and Methods: It was used online survey as a cross-sectional study from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, for drug users aged 18 years or older, in the 12 months prior to the survey, between March and April 2021. The main instrument was EWSD - questionnaire structured in 8 modules. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used.

Results: The total number of respondents was 336. 59% were male, 35% female. 73% were young people between 18 to 34 years old and 26% were from 35 to 70 years old. The last year prevalence of drug use: 90% answered that they used cannabis, 76% answered that they used herbal cannabis to reduce stress, around half of them said that they use to get high, to improve sleep or to socialize. The most commonly reported setting for drug use was home, mentioned by around 77% of the respondents.

Discussion: At the time when the research has been conducted, country was facing the big wave of the COVID-19 crisis, with implemented restrictions, lockdowns and reduced contacts. That fact can explain the decreased number of the use of ecstasy and cocaine powder and the increased use of herbal cannabis at home. Conclusions: COVID-19 had a huge impact on the use of drugs.