Changes in smoking, alcohol and cannabis use in older adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) cohort study

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the activities of daily life for Canadians. Public health measures that were necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., isolation, physical distancing, and business/work closures) have resulted in unprecedented changes in behaviours and social factors. Changes in substance use patterns have been hypothesized to be an unintended consequence of the pandemic, which is concerning given their impact on morbidity and mortality. The overall objectives of this study are to measure changes in tobacco smoking, alcohol, and cannabis use from pre- to early-pandemic, to evaluate their association with public health preventive measures, and to identify subgroups at greatest risk of increased use. We will address these research objectives using national data from repeated surveys collected through the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The results of this study will inform public health interventions and harm reduction strategies post-pandemic.