Addiction,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
117(11), P. 2762 - 2766
Published: Sept. 6, 2022
The
impact
of
the
COVID-19
pandemic
on
addictive
disorders-an
update
Overall,
early
phases
were
not
associated
with
more
consumption
opioids,
alcohol,
cannabis
and
involvement
in
gambling,
but
there
has
been
evidence
for
an
increase
behaviours
among
specific
groups.Tobacco
use
stands
somewhat
apart
both
increased
quitting
initiation.Natural
experiments
other
longitudinal
research
studies
are
needed
to
estimate
lasting
change.
The Lancet Public Health,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
8(7), P. e484 - e493
Published: June 7, 2023
Drug-related
death
(DRD)
rate
in
Scotland,
UK,
has
increased
rapidly
to
one
of
the
highest
world.
Our
aim
was
examine
extent
which
opioid-agonist
therapy
(OAT)
Scotland
is
protective
against
drug-related
mortality
and
how
this
effect
varied
over
time.
BMC Public Health,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
22(1)
Published: March 15, 2022
Abstract
Introduction
People
who
use
drugs
(PWUD)
are
considered
vulnerable
to
COVID-19
exposure
and
the
sequelae
of
infection
due
their
social
circumstances,
health
conditions,
drug
purchasing,
substance
use.
They
can
depend
on
access
services
that
provide
harm
reduction,
treatment,
recovery
support,
general
healthcare.
Social
distancing
measures
service
restrictions
posed
significant
challenges
wellbeing
PWUD.
Methods
Ethical
approvals
were
secured.
PWUD
recruited
from
voluntary
sector
homeless
housing,
organisations
across
central
Scotland.
Data
was
collected
via
semi-structured
interviews
analysed
using
Framework
Method.
Results
Twenty
nine
participated
reported
mixed
experiences
impacts
lockdown.
Several
benefitted
policy
practice
developments
designed
sustain
or
increase
reduction
services.
Some
improved
substitute
prescribing
and/or
appreciated
being
trusted
manage
multiple
take-home
doses.
Others
noted
loss
regular
in-person
contact
with
treatment
providers
dispensers.
Access
support
challenging
for
many,
especially
those
unable
uncomfortable
online
provision
experienced
greater
isolation.
Lack
healthcare
common,
problematic
chronic
physical
mental
conditions.
Conclusions
This
qualitative
research
describes
in
These
anticipated
by
makers
providers.
Effective
acceptable
shown
maintain
even
Developments
geographically
dependent
remained
many
people.
The
learning
generated
inform
responses
uptake
post-pandemic
times.
Harm Reduction Journal,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
21(1)
Published: May 8, 2024
Abstract
Background
Substance
use
disorder
treatment
and
recovery
support
services
are
critical
for
achieving
maintaining
recovery.
There
limited
data
on
how
structural
social
changes
due
to
the
COVID-19
pandemic
impacted
individual-level
experiences
with
substance
treatment-related
among
community-based
samples
of
people
who
inject
drugs.
Methods
People
a
recent
history
injection
drug
were
enrolled
in
AIDS
Linked
IntraVenous
Experience
study
Baltimore,
Maryland
participated
one-time,
semi-structured
interview
between
July
2021
February
2022
about
their
living
through
(n
=
28).
An
iterative
inductive
coding
process
was
used
identify
themes
describing
affected
participants’
services.
Results
The
median
age
participants
54
years
(range
24–73);
10
(36%)
female,
16
(57%)
non-Hispanic
Black,
8
(29%)
HIV.
We
identified
several
that
acted
as
barriers
facilitators
engagement
medications
opioid
(MOUD)
(e.g.,
group
meetings).
New
take-home
methadone
flexibility
policies
temporarily
facilitated
MOUD
treatment,
but
other
pre-existing
rigid
practices
zero-tolerance)
counteracting
barriers.
Changes
illicit
market
both
facilitator
barrier
treatment.
Decreased
availability
pandemic-related
adaptations
in-person
While
telehealth
expansion
meetings
some
participants,
faced
digital
technological
These
service
provision
also
led
diminished
perceived
quality
virtual
meetings.
However,
increased
accessibility
individual
providers
counselors
Sponsors).
Conclusions
Structural
across
socioecological
levels
created
new
Multilevel
interventions
needed
improve
access
high-quality
Viruses,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
16(5), P. 655 - 655
Published: April 23, 2024
We
investigated
the
impacts
of
COVID-19
pandemic
on
hepatitis
C
(HCV)
treatment
initiation,
including
by
birth
cohort
and
injection
drug
use
status,
in
British
Columbia
(BC),
Canada.
Using
population
data
from
BC
Cohort,
we
conducted
interrupted
time
series
analyses,
estimating
changes
HCV
initiation
following
introduction
pandemic-related
policies
March
2020.
The
study
included
a
pre-policy
period
(April
2018
to
2020)
three
follow-up
periods
December
2020,
January
2021,
2022).
level
decreased
26%
April
2020
(rate
ratio
0.74,
95%
confidence
interval
[CI]
0.60
0.91).
Overall,
no
statistically
significant
difference
occurred
over
2021
post-policy
periods,
an
increase
34.4%
(95%
CI
0.6
75.8)
2022
(equating
321
additional
people
initiating
treatment),
relative
expectation.
Decreases
for
born
between
1965
1974
(25.5%)
who
inject
drugs
(24.5%),
In
summary,
was
associated
with
short-term
disruptions
BC,
which
were
greater
drugs.
International Journal of Drug Policy,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
107, P. 103787 - 103787
Published: July 1, 2022
In
March
2020,
the
World
Health
Organization
declared
COVID-19
a
global
pandemic.
following
weeks,
most
European
countries
implemented
national
lockdowns
to
mitigate
viral
spread.
Services
for
people
who
use
drugs
had
quickly
revise
their
operating
procedures
rearrange
service
provision
while
adhering
lockdown
requirements.
Given
scarcity
of
literature
published
on
overdose
prevention
during
in
Europe,
we
aimed
examine
how
these
changes
affected
take-home
naloxone
(THN)
programmes
and
availability
across
Europe.
Between
November
2020
January
2021,
conducted
rapid
assessment
with
country
experts
from
that
provide
THN.
We
sent
template
report
monthly
THN
distribution
data
(January
1,
2019-October
31,
2020)
structured
6-item
survey
completion.
Responses
were
received
14
15
which
11
participated
assessment:
Austria,
Denmark,
England,
Estonia,
Lithuania,
Northern
Ireland,
Norway,
Scotland,
Spain
(Catalonia
only),
Sweden,
Wales.
All
reported
reduced
organisational
capacity
COVID-19,
some
put
into
place
range
novel
approaches
manage
restrictions
face-to-face
provision.
six
countries,
introduction
programme
innovation
occurred
alongside
publication
government
guidelines
recommending
increased
COVID-19.
Eight
eleven
participating
managed
maintain
2019-level
rates
or
even
increase
Through
supported
by
public
guidelines,
many
ensure
stable
pandemic,
despite
social
distancing
stay-at-home
orders
affecting
client
mobility.
International Journal of Drug Policy,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
118, P. 104075 - 104075
Published: May 22, 2023
In
anticipation
of
COVID-19
related
disruptions
to
opioid
use
disorder
(OUD)
care,
new
provincial
and
federal
guidance
for
the
management
OUD
risk
mitigation
(RMG)
prescription
pharmaceutical
opioids
were
introduced
in
British
Columbia,
Canada,
March
2020.
This
study
evaluated
combined
impacts
pandemic
counteracting
policies
on
enrollment
medications
(MOUD).
Using
data
from
three
cohorts
people
with
presumed
Vancouver,
we
conducted
an
interrupted
time
series
analysis
estimate
effects
impact
prevalence
MOUD
overall,
as
well
individual
MOUDs
(methadone,
buprenorphine/naloxone,
slow-release
oral
morphine)
between
November
2018
2021,
controlling
pre-existing
trends.
sub-analysis
considered
RMG
together
MOUD.
We
included
760
participants
OUD.
post-COVID-19
period,
morphine
rates
showed
estimated
immediate
increase
level
(+7.6%,
95%
CI:
0.6%,
14.6%
1.8%,
0.3%,
3.3%,
respectively),
followed
by
a
decline
monthly
trend
(-0.8%
per
month,
−1.4%,
−0.2%
−0.4,
−0.1,
respectively).
There
no
significant
changes
trends
methadone,
or
when
Despite
improvements
this
beneficial
reversed
over
time.
appeared
have
provided
additional
benefits
sustain
retention
care.
