A new study published in World Psychology from the National Institute on Drug Abuse has found that fully vaccinated patients with substance use disorders are more likely to get breakthrough infections from COVID-19. The study analyzed health records for more than 580,000 fully vaccinated people in the U.S.
The researchers found that underlying health conditions and socioeconomic factors of health, which are common among those with substance abuse disorders, were “largely responsible for the increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections.”
People who had substance abuse disorders were also more likely to have a severe reaction to COVID-19, as well as hospitalization and death. Marijuana advocates said the study did not show that marijuana could be a cause in breakthrough cases, also noting that most marijuana users are not dependent on the drug.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the institute, said it’s important for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “First and foremost, vaccination is highly effective for people with substance use disorders, and the overall risk of COVID-19 among vaccinated people with substance use disorders is very low,” she said in a news release.