Contextualizing the Relationship Between Social Isolation and Substance Abuse

Objective: To investigate the relationship between social isolation and substance abuse among adult hospitalizations to better target prevention and intervention.

Methods: The 2018 National Inpatient Sample dataset was used to identify adult hospitalizations with social isolation and substance abuse in the United States, omitting long-term and rehabilitation facilities. The study analyzed sociodemographic features and health care resource utilization, with primary end points focusing on the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) with social isolation and sex/race-based disparities and secondary end points including mental health and costs. Comparisons were analyzed using SPSS Statistics with weighted data and complex survey modules.

Results: The study included 2,050 patients (median age: 48 years, male: 55.6%) with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification social isolation diagnostic code, of which 16.6% had SUD, with higher prevalence in those of younger age, male sex, and black race. Smoking (49.3% vs 36.1%), alcohol disorder (14.4% vs 4.9%), cannabis disorder (14.6% vs 1.4%), stimulant-related disorder (16.3% vs 2.6%), and opioid-related disorder (16.6% vs 3.1%) were the most prevalent SUDs among socially isolated patients. The length of stay was similar among socially isolated patients by substance use; however, hospitalization cost was higher ($6,144 vs $4,745) among patients with SUD.

Conclusion: The link between social isolation and substance use highlights the significance of addressing social isolation as a public health issue. Interventions to nurture social ties and reduce social isolation may have significant potential in preventing and managing SUDs.

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2024;26(5):23m03679.

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