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Exploring the Nexus of Climate Change and Substance Abuse: A Scoping Review
Luca Tomassini1, Massimo Lancia2, Angela Gambelunghe3
1School of Advanced Studies, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
Summary
Climate change impacts health, with extreme weather posing risks. This review highlights the limited research on substance abuse and climate change, stressing vulnerabilities for those with addiction and mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Addiction Science
Background:
- Rising global temperatures and extreme weather events present significant human health risks.
- Climate change exacerbates existing health vulnerabilities, necessitating research into its multifaceted impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of the literature on the relationship between substance abuse and climate change.
- To identify research gaps and understand the scope of existing studies in this emerging field.
Main Methods:
- Adherence to PRISMA guidelines for systematic literature review.
- Comprehensive database searches using targeted keywords for substance abuse and climate change.
- Rigorous quality assessment of included studies, evaluating clarity, search strategy, and data extraction.
Main Results:
- The majority of studies were conducted in the USA, employing diverse methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, observational).
- Research indicates a correlation between extreme weather events, particularly heatwaves, and substance abuse.
- Studies analyzed the physiological and pathological effects of climate change on individuals.
Conclusions:
- There is a notable scarcity of research examining the link between substance abuse and climate change.
- Individuals with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
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