TY - JOUR
T1 - Consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among New York City residents six months after the September 11 terrorist attacks
AU - Vlahov, David
AU - Galea, Sandro
AU - Ahern, Jennifer
AU - Resnick, Heidi
AU - Boscarino, Joseph A.
AU - Gold, Joel
AU - Bucuvalas, Michael
AU - Kilpatrick, Dean
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank Mr. Mark Morgan for invaluable contributions to the conduct of this study and Dr. Donald Hoover for statistical assistance. We are indebted to the interviewers at Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas Inc. and all participants who were involved in the study. Supported by grants from the United Way of New York City, The New York Community Trust, the Met Life Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health (R01 DA14219-01S1), and the National Institute on Mental Health (R01 MH66081).
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Early analyses following the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York City showed an increase in cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use, but it was unknown whether these increases would persist. A random-digit dial phone survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of increased substance use among residents of New York City six to nine months after the attacks. Among 1570 adults, 9.9% reported an increase in smoking, 17.5% an increase in alcohol use, and 2.7% an increase in marijuana use compared to the month before September 11. These increases were comparable to increases reported in the first one to two months after September 11. Persons who increased use of cigarettes were more likely than those who did not to report symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the past month (4.3% and 1.2% respectively). Depression was more common among those who increased use of cigarettes (14.6% and 5.2% respectively), alcohol (11.8% vs. 5.2%), and marijuana (34.1% vs. 5.3%). Among residents living in Manhattan below One Hundred Tenth Street, the prevalence of PTSD and depression declined by more than half in the first six months after September 11, while the increase in substance use did not decline substantially. These results suggest that the increase in substance use after a disaster may be a cause for public health concern in the long-term.
AB - Early analyses following the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York City showed an increase in cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use, but it was unknown whether these increases would persist. A random-digit dial phone survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of increased substance use among residents of New York City six to nine months after the attacks. Among 1570 adults, 9.9% reported an increase in smoking, 17.5% an increase in alcohol use, and 2.7% an increase in marijuana use compared to the month before September 11. These increases were comparable to increases reported in the first one to two months after September 11. Persons who increased use of cigarettes were more likely than those who did not to report symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the past month (4.3% and 1.2% respectively). Depression was more common among those who increased use of cigarettes (14.6% and 5.2% respectively), alcohol (11.8% vs. 5.2%), and marijuana (34.1% vs. 5.3%). Among residents living in Manhattan below One Hundred Tenth Street, the prevalence of PTSD and depression declined by more than half in the first six months after September 11, while the increase in substance use did not decline substantially. These results suggest that the increase in substance use after a disaster may be a cause for public health concern in the long-term.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Cigarette smoking
KW - Disaster
KW - Marijuana
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - Substance use
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U2 - 10.1081/ADA-120037384
DO - 10.1081/ADA-120037384
M3 - Article
C2 - 15230082
AN - SCOPUS:2942674421
SN - 0095-2990
VL - 30
SP - 385
EP - 407
JO - American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
JF - American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
IS - 2
ER -