Ambulance calls for Substance use and Alcohol in a Pandemic (ASAP)

PROJECT TITLE AMBULANCE CALLS FOR SUBSTANCE USE AND ALCOHOL IN A PANDEMIC (ASAP)
Funding body None
Total funding Unfunded
Team
  • Prof Graham Law, CaHRU, University of Lincoln (UoL)
  • Rachael Mason, School of Health and Social Care, UoL
  •  Dr Amanda Roberts, School of Psychology, UoL
  • Jim Rogers, School of Health and Social Care, UoL
  •  Gregory Adam Whitley, CaHRU, UoL
  •  Prof Todd Hogue, School of Psychology, UoL
  • Rob Spaight, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS)
  • Debbie Shaw, EMAS
  • Prof Niroshan Siriwardena, CaHRU, UoL
Team/consortium
  • University of Lincoln
  • East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Overarching aim The aim of this study is to review published evidence on the effect of the pandemic on alcohol and substance misuse and investigate ambulance service attendance and transports at incidents involving alcohol and/or substance use over the period of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown..
Objectives
  • To explore ambulance service attendance at incidents involving alcohol and/or substance use over the period of the pandemic lockdown to determine prevalence and explore factors such as patient gender, age, ethnicity or location measures such as deprivation.
  • To explore the clinical decision making of the ambulance crew such as conveyance to hospital in relation to crew gender, age, qualification or seniority.
  • To identify and synthesise the evidence and alcohol and other substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods Cross sectional and time series studies; systematic review.
Outcomes This study will provide information on the effect of the pandemic and the government’s response on hazardous or harmful substance or alcohol use leading to an ambulance response and the decision to transport to hospital.
Outputs Publications

Roberts A, Rogers J, Mason R, Siriwardena AN, Hogue T, Whitley GA, Law GR. Alcohol and other substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review (2021). Drug and Alcohol Dependence 229: 109150.

Conference presentations
Impact The study will provide information for ambulance services, hospitals and policy makers on the effect of lockdown during the pandemic on alcohol and substance misuse leading to ambulance calls.

 

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