A Comparative Study of Drug Poisoning Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Southwest of Iran

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led to significant changes in people’s social behavior and lifestyle. Significant changes brought about by the pandemic included the routine disinfection of hands and surfaces using ethanol, the widespread use of masks, the avoidance of crowded places, and a shift towards remote work. Consequently, an increase in drug poisoning, particularly ethanol, was reported during the pandemic. The present study aimed to compare the frequency and types of drug poisoning before and after the onset of the pandemic in hospitals located in the southwest of Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in educational hospitals located in Abadan and Khoramshahr, Iran. Data from 488 patients who were hospitalized due to drug poisoning during the specified time periods were collected. Descriptive statistics, along with Chi-square test and Fisher’s test, were utilized for data analysis.

The findings revealed that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of alcohol and neuropsychiatric drug poisoning was 5% and 34%, respectively. However, these figures rose to 12.2% and 37.8% in the period following the onset of COVID-19. In the period following the onset of COVID-19, poisoning with neuropsychiatric drugs was observed to have the highest frequency across all ages and both sexes.

The current findings suggest that the lifestyle changes brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak have contributed to an increase in drug poisoning across all ages and both sexes. Therefore, it is recommended to promote the rational use of drugs, particularly in special circumstances, such as pandemics.