Daily alcohol consumption has more than doubled in Montreal during pandemic

Montreal public health says the pandemic has had “negative consequences” on citizen’s consumption of alcohol, cannabis, smoking, and vaping.

The Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal has studied the changes of Montrealers’ behaviours during the pandemic, such as physical activity, quality of sleep, food insecurity, mental health, and substance abuse and noticed “daily use has increased significantly during the pandemic.”

The study considers “daily use” as every day or almost every day.

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During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Mylène Drouin — Montreal’s Director of Publich Health — says citizen’s increase is “dramatic” and a way for Montrealers to “control their stress.”

“We are preoccupied with the collateral impact of this pandemic,” said Drouin in French, “but the city remains uncomfortable.”

Changes in alcohol use:

Santé Montreal

The study reports that 1 in 3 Montrealers (33%) who use alcohol report having increased their use during the pandemic, citing a “significant increase” in alcohol use in people under the age of 65.

“The proportion of individuals who report having reduced or increased their alcohol use does not differ significantly according to household income,” says the report.

Changes in cannabis, cigarette, and vaping use:

Santé Montreal

One in five Montrealers (19%) say they’ve consumed cannabis during the pandemic, 37% of whom said their use has increased, which is “especially evident among 18 to 34-year-olds.”

Within Montrealers who smoke, 41% say they have been smoking more cigarettes since the start of the pandemic and 36% of vapers have also increased their consumption.

POINT SANTÉ DES MONTRÉALAIS | C’est normal de vivre du #stress et de l’#anxiété. La #consommation (alcool, drogues, tabac) peut sembler être un manière de gérer nos émotions. Il existe des stratégies plus positives et plus efficaces à long terme : https://t.co/CLGlyxkMEk pic.twitter.com/K0PmCdIZEp

— Dre Mylène Drouin, directrice santé publique Mtl (@Santepub_Mtl) November 11, 2020

Drouin says it’s important to find other ways to deal and cope with the stresses of the pandemic and invites people in mental distress to get in touch with a professional, by calling the government’s 811 health line, reaching out to family and friends, or a doctor through any local CLSC clinic.

The full Les changements en matière de consommation d’alcool, de cannabis et de tabac durant la pandémie de COVID-19 is available online (in French only).