WED-081 - Mapping Research on Young Adult Substance Use in the Post-covid Era (2020–2025): A Bibliometric Analysis

Brief Abstract Summary: Gain insight into how global research on substance use among young adults has evolved between 2020 and 2025, shaped by the public health and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This bibliometric analysis explores more than 500 peer-reviewed publications to uncover emerging trends, thematic shifts, and leading contributors in the field. Attendees will discover the most researched topics including alcohol, cannabis, and mental health as well as the institutions and countries driving this scholarship. Special attention is given to persisting knowledge gaps, particularly concerning socioeconomically disadvantaged and high-risk populations. This presentation will highlight how the pandemic influenced research priorities and where critical evidence is still lacking. Findings will inform more targeted, culturally responsive public health strategies and guide future research, funding decisions, and policy initiatives to promote substance use prevention and health equity.

Detailed abstract description: This study presents a bibliometric analysis of 589 peer-reviewed articles (2020–2025) on young adult substance use during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, using R Studio and MEDLINE data. Results show a 19.28% annual increase in publications, with key themes including alcohol, cannabis, and mental health. Research was concentrated in the U.S. and Canada, with limited focus on high-risk or underserved populations. Findings highlight thematic trends and critical gaps, guiding future public health research, equity-focused interventions, and policy priorities.

Using R Studio (v4.5.1), we analyzed 589 MEDLINE-indexed articles (2020–2025) on substance use among young adults using the search terms ((COVID-19) AND (Substance Use Among Young Adults)) across 265 journals. Study types included case reports (7), comparative (8), and observational studies (10). Findings reveal a 19.28% annual growth in research output. Most studies focused on young adults (n=538), females (n=451), and adolescents (348). Major themes included mental health (58), substance-related disorders (24), COVID-19 (139), SARS-CoV-2 (224), and general pandemic-related content (249). There has been a growing focus on alcohol (35) and cannabis (15), but far less research on vaping, opioids, or polysubstance use. The U.S., Canada, and France led publication output. Top contributors included Patrick ME (9), Knight R, Lee CN, and Rhew IC (7) and institutions like the University of Kentucky College of Medicine (648). Leading journals were PLOS ONE (28), JAMA Network Open (18), and IJERPH (25).

The concentration of research in high-income countries and a few key institutions highlights a geographic and institutional imbalance in knowledge production. While contributors like Patrick ME and journals such as PLOS ONE and JAMA Network Open drive visibility, this dominance may limit diverse perspectives. For public health educators, these trends underscore the need to amplify underrepresented voices, promote inclusive research agendas, and critically assess whether existing literature reflects the needs of diverse, high-risk young adult populations globally.

This research will explore not only what has been studied, but what has been overlooked. The lack of focus on socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, racial and ethnic minorities, and global South contexts indicates an urgent need for more inclusive, equity-centered public health research.

By attending this session, participants will be able to (1) identify at least three leading authors, institutions, and journals in young adult substance use research from 2020–2025; (2) describe major demographic and thematic trends with supporting data; (3) recognize at least two underexplored populations or topics needing further research; (4) apply basic bibliometric techniques to evaluate research trends; and (5) propose one equity-centered strategy aligned with the Community-Based Public Health Caucus within one month of the session.