Effect of the COVID-19 Emergency State in the Latvian General Population with Depression and Distress on Changes of Patterns of Smoking and Psychoactive Substance Use

The World Health Organisation warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could have psychiatric consequences, such as elevated levels of depression and increased alcohol and psychoactive substance use. On 12 March 2020, Latvia declared a state of emergency, which was repealed on 10 June 2020. A nationwide representative online study in the general population of Latvia was conducted from 7 to 27 July 2020. The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to determine the presence of distress/depression. A structured questionnaire was used to determine psychoactive substance use. The study sample included 2608 respondents. In the study population, prevalence of depression and distress was estimated to be 5.7% (95% CI 4.92–6.71) and 7.82% (95% CI 6.85–8.91), respectively. Patients with depression and distress smoked more tobacco than respondents without distress/depression. During the state of emergency, there were changes in smoking habits in patients with depression, in contrast with respondents without reported depressive symptoms, with a tendency to smoke either more (28% vs. 7.4%) or less (22% vs. 9.7%). Patients with distress smoked more than healthy patients (30.9% vs. 7.4%). Patients with depression and distress were significantly more likely to consume more alcohol during an emergency (14.0% and 17.7%). Patients with depression were more likely to use less alcohol during an emergency than healthy respondents (18.0% vs. 10.6%). There was no statistically significant difference in the use of other psychoactive substances among those who were depressed or in distress. Participants with depression were more likely to change their smoking habits during the state of emergency and to consume smaller alcohol amounts compared to participants without symptoms. Participants with distress smoked more and consumed larger alcohol amounts compared to healthy participants.