Columbia Research Links Elevated Temperatures and Climate Change to Rising Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Columbia Research Links Elevated Temperatures and Climate Change to Rising Drug and Alcohol Abuse SciTechDaily
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Columbia Public Health Study: Impact of Rising Temperatures on Alcohol and Substance-Related Hospital Visits
Rising temperatures correlate with increased hospital visits for alcohol and substance disorders, a Columbia University study finds. The research underscores the indirect public health implications of climate change and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions during warmer periods.
Introduction
Hospital visits related to alcohol- and substance-related disorders are influenced by elevated temperatures and may be further impacted by climate change. This is the key finding of a new study conducted by environmental health scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Study Details
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Medicine, is the first comprehensive investigation into the association between temperature and hospital visits for alcohol- and substance-related disorders. The researchers analyzed data from 671,625 alcohol-related and 721,469 substance-related disorder hospital visits over a 20-year period in New York State. They used a statistical model that compared days with high temperatures to nearby days with lower temperatures, taking into account daily temperature and relative humidity records.
Findings
The study revealed a direct relationship between rising temperatures and hospital visits for alcohol-related disorders. The researchers suggest that higher hospital visits during warmer periods may be attributed to factors such as increased outdoor activities, consumption of substances in pleasant weather, dehydration due to perspiration, or driving under the influence. For other drug disorders, such as cannabis, cocaine, opioids, and sedatives, higher temperatures also led to more hospital visits, but only up to a certain temperature limit.
Implications
The findings of this study highlight the need for targeted interventions and public health campaigns to address the risks of alcohol and substance use during warmer weather. The researchers recommend proactive assistance for alcohol- and substance-vulnerable communities during periods of elevated temperatures.
Recommendations and Future Directions
Public health scientists and officials can use these findings to inform policy and develop interventions that raise awareness about the impact of warming temperatures on substance use. The study also suggests the importance of considering existing health conditions exacerbated by alcohol and substance use in combination with rising temperatures. Future research may focus on linking cases of deaths with hospital visit records to gain a more comprehensive understanding of patients’ medical history.
Reference: “The association between temperature and alcohol- and substance-related disorder hospital visits in New York State” by Robbie M. Parks, Sebastian T. Rowland, Vivian Do, Amelia K. Boehme, Francesca Dominici, Carl L. Hart, and Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, 26 September 2023, Communications Medicine. DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00346-1
The study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Additional co-authors include Sebastian T. Rowland, Vivian Do, and Amelia K Boehme from Columbia Public Health; Carl L. Hart from Columbia Psychiatry; and Francesca Dominici from T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The article discusses the relationship between temperature and hospital visits for alcohol- and substance-related disorders, highlighting the indirect public health implications of climate change. This connects to SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It also connects to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
- SDG 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
The article highlights the need for targeted interventions during warmer periods to address the increase in hospital visits for alcohol- and substance-related disorders. This aligns with SDG 3.5, which focuses on strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Additionally, raising awareness of the risks of substance use during warmer weather is mentioned as a potential public health intervention, connecting to SDG 13.3.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of hospital visits for alcohol- and substance-related disorders
- Temperature data
- Relative humidity data
The article mentions the use of data on hospital visits for alcohol- and substance-related disorders over a 20-year period to understand the relationship with temperature. This indicates that the number of hospital visits can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards the target of strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse (SDG 3.5). Additionally, temperature and relative humidity data are used to analyze the association between temperature and hospital visits, suggesting that these climate-related variables can be used as indicators to measure progress towards the target of improving education and awareness on climate change (SDG 13.3).
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol | – Number of hospital visits for alcohol- and substance-related disorders |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | – Temperature data – Relative humidity data |
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Source: scitechdaily.com
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