The fully vaccinated people with substance use disorders (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, etc.) are low but about double the risk of infection from coronavirus and Covid-19 infection in relation to the general population, according to a new US scientific study, the first of its kind among vaccinated drug users.
Researchers from the US National Institutes of Health and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, published their findings in the international journal Psychiatry, analyzing data from nearly 580,000 people, of whom 30,183 were diagnosed with substance use disorders (drugs, etc.). All were fully vaccinated between December 2020 and August 2021 and were not infected with coronavirus prior to vaccination.
According to the APE-MPE, the risk of Covid-19 infection of vaccinated people (so-called “breakthrough” infections) was generally 7% for those with substance use disorders (ranging from 7.8% for people with cannabis disorder). up to 6.8% due to tobacco use), compared to only 3.6% among those vaccinated without such disorders. The greatest risk of breakthrough infection is for cannabis users after cocaine.
Coronavirus: What happens especially to cannabis users
The researchers pointed out that several substance users have disturbed function of their immune system due to their drugs and other diseases. The increased risk of infection of a vaccinated user is largely explained, according to the researchers, by the coexistence of chronic diseases and adverse socioeconomic conditions, things common to substance users.
Exception appear to be vaccinated with cannabis use disorder, who are estimated to have 55% higher chance of Covid-19 infection, although usually younger and without underlying diseases. One possible explanation is that cannabis has a negative effect on lung function, thus increasing the chance of coronavirus disease despite vaccination.
Breakthrough infections in vaccinated substance users have also been found to significantly increase the risk of serious complications of Covid-19 infection. Among those with substance use disorders, 22.5% of those infected with coronavirus after complete vaccination needed hospitalization and 1.7% died, compared with only 1.6% and 0.5% among non-infectious substance users, respectively. breakthrough.
The conclusions of the researchers
“Our findings show that those vaccinated with substance use disorders generally have a low risk of Covid-19 infection, which indicates the effectiveness and need for full vaccination of this group of the population.” However, this population group remains vulnerable even after vaccination, so it is important that vaccinated patients with such disorders continue to take precautions against a possible infection, “said the researchers.
“The first and foremost is that vaccination is highly effective for people with substance use disorders, and that the overall risk of Covid-19 among those vaccinated with such disorders is very low. We must continue to encourage and facilitate the vaccination for Covid-19 of people with substance disorders, while at the same time acknowledging that, even after vaccination, this group is at increased risk and must continue to take preventive measures against coronavirus. Said Dr. Nora Volkov, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Department of National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Here you will see the relevant scientific publication.
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