# Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Alcohol Use and PTSD Symptoms in a Sample of African American Heavy Drinkers

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2020 · $152,703

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The current global pandemic raises critically important questions about the ways that heavy drinking and alcohol use
disorder (AUD) may increase risk for COVID-19 illness and engaging in risk reduction strategies, as well as how
uncertainty and stress related to the pandemic and measures to contain it may impact drinking and related outcomes.
Our current NIAAA-funded study (Pharmacogenetic Treatment with Anti-Glutaminergic Agents for Comorbid PTSD &
AUD; 5R01AA024760) is testing the efficacy of pregabalin in reducing symptoms of AUD and posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) in a sample of mostly low socioeconomic status (SES) African American men and women who have
experienced an array of lifetime traumatic events. Over the course of the trial, we have assessed 140 heavy drinkers
with a variety of measures of alcohol use, trauma experiences, PTSD and mood symptoms, other substance use, and
general functioning (i.e., taking care of oneself, communicating and interacting with others, taking care of work and
domestic responsibilities). Further examination of this highly diverse sample has the potential to shed light on the
consequences of the pandemic on high-risk community members and the ways that pandemic-related experiences of
stress, uncertainty, and social isolation may impact alcohol use and related outcomes. In response to Notice of Special
Interest: Availability of Administrative Supplements and Competitive Revision Supplements on Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19) within the Mission of NIAAA (NOT-AA-20-011), we propose to capitalize on this existing research
cohort to investigate urgent research questions of significance to the COVID-19 pandemic among an underserved
population of participants with comorbid alcohol use and mental health disorders. First, we will collect descriptive data
on participants’ experiences of COVID-19 illness and engaging in risk reduction practices. This will include experiences
with testing, treatment, and hospitalization for COVID-19, as well as engaging in risk reduction practices such as social
distancing and wearing masks. Second, we will explore the ways that alcohol use, PTSD symptoms, other substance
use, mood symptoms, social support, and general functioning are related to engaging in COVID-19 risk reduction
practices. Third, we will compare alcohol use, PTSD symptoms, other substance use, mood symptoms, and general
functioning assessed before (prior to February 1, 2020) and after the onset of the pandemic to examine how the
pandemic affected these domains. Including measures of functional outcomes offers the opportunity to explore how the
pandemic has impacted participants’ ability to continue to perform meaningful family and societal roles.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176659
- **Project number:** 3R01AA024760-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** MELANIE E. BENNETT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $152,703
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-04-15 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10176659

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176659, Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Alcohol Use and PTSD Symptoms in a Sample of African American Heavy Drinkers (3R01AA024760-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176659. Licensed CC0.

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