The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tobacco and alcohol use in the Russian Federation

Introduction. The study is devoted to the analysis of the dynamics of the tobacco and alcohol use prevalence among the adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the study: to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine-containing products consumption among the adult population of the Russian Federation, men and women, as well as different age groups.

Materials and methods. The data source for calculations was microdata from the Sample observation of the health status of the population conducted by Rosstat in 2019–2022. The indicators characterizing the prevalence and intensity of tobacco and alcohol use by adults of different age groups, men and women, as well as their relative changes in the pre-covid (2019), covid (2020–2021) and post-covid (2022) periods were calculated by the authors.

Results. In 2019–2022, the prevalence of alcohol consumption among the adult population, men and women decreased annually. The largest relative decrease was noted in 2021 and amounted to –5.4% among the adult population, –4.3% among men and –6.1% among women. In 2022, the decline continued and amounted to –1.8%, –0.7% and –2.7%, respectively. In 2021, the maximum decrease in alcohol consumption was detected in the age groups of 15–24 years (–11.0% and –12.2%, respectively), which was replaced by significant growth in 2022. A similar trend was found in relation to the prevalence of tobacco/ nicotine use. During 2020–2021, a decrease in the intensity of alcohol and tobacco use was noted.

Conclusion. In general, the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the general trends in reducing tobacco and alcohol use among the adult population. The changes in the dynamics of their use (decrease) were temporary and were probably related to both health concerns and restrictions imposed during the pandemic period.

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