Avoiding a new epidemic during a pandemic: The importance of assessing the risk of substance use disorders in the COVID-19 era

Mota, Pedro

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113142

Cited by 34 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…One plausible explanation for these findings is that COVID-19 has made it more challenging to access drugs or more financially difficult to afford their costs. Mota (2020) cogently points to the risks that the stress of the pandemic and the demands of quarantine and social distancing might exacerbate problems associated with substance use. While these findings provide no indication that substance use is expanding among sexual minority men – they do suggest that those sexual minority men who are using drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic face exacerbated sexual health risks consistent with Mota’s (2020) general premise.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In spite of speculation that the pandemic may result in increased substance use for society at large, preliminary findings from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction have indicated a decrease in use during the pandemic’s first three months ( Mota, 2020 ; European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2020 ). In fact, widespread lockdown orders across Europe from March to May 2020 saw disruptions to the production and distribution of illegal drugs and a subsequent decline in individual use ( European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Europol, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, widespread lockdown orders across Europe from March to May 2020 saw disruptions to the production and distribution of illegal drugs and a subsequent decline in individual use ( European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Europol, 2020 ). However, more robust data on differences in substance use pre and post-pandemic—for sexual minority men notwithstanding—is still very limited ( Mota, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evaluating the impact of COVID-19: A cohort comparison study of drug use and risky sexual behavior among sexual minority men in the U.S.A.

Starks

Jones

Sauermilch

et al. 2020

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the impact of COVID-19: A cohort comparison study of drug use and risky sexual behavior among sexual minority men in the U.S.A.

Starks

Jones

Sauermilch

et al. 2020

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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“…In the US, an already severe opioid overdose crisis worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 30 out of 50 states reporting increases in overdoses between March and June of 2020, with an increase in high potency synthetic opioids such as fentanyl in street supplies and decreased access to harm reduction and OUD treatment services cited as possible drivers of overdose increase (30-32). While concerns have been also raised regarding probable effects of substances on COVID-19 patients (4, 33, 34), more research is need on changes in drug use patterns and impacts on SUDs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A global survey on changes in the supply, price and use of illicit drugs and alcohol, and related complications during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic

Farhoudian

Radfar

Rafei

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background and aims: COVID-19 has infected more than 13 million people worldwide and impacted the lives of many more, with a particularly devastating impact on vulnerable populations, including people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Quarantines, travel bans, regulatory changes, social distancing and ′lockdown′ measures have affected drug and alcohol supply chains and subsequently their availability, price and use patterns, with possible downstream effects on presentations of SUDs and demand for treatment. Given the lack of multicentric epidemiologic studies, we conducted a rapid global survey within the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) network in order to understand the status of substance-use patterns during the current pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Worldwide. Participants: Starting on April 4th, 2020 during a 5-week period, the survey received 185 responses from 77 countries. Measurements: To assess addiction medicine professionals′ perceived changes in drug and alcohol supply, price, use pattern and related complications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: Participants reported (among who answered ″decreased″ or ″increased″, percentage of those who were in majority is reported in the parenthesis) a decrease in drug supply (69.0%), and at the same time an increase in price (95.3%) globally. With respect to changes in use patterns, an increase in alcohol (71.7%), cannabis (63.0%), prescription opioids (70.9%), and sedative/hypnotics (84.6%) use was reported while the use of amphetamines (59.7%), cocaine (67.5%), and opiates (58.2%) was reported to decrease overall. Conclusions: The global report on changes in the availability, use patterns and complications of alcohol and drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered in making new policies and in developing mitigating measures and guidelines during the current pandemic (and probable future ones) in order to minimize risks to SUDs. Key words: COVID-19, pandemic, alcohol, drug, substance use disorder, supply, price.

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“…This may be acutely felt by those accessing OAT or who consider themselves to be in recovery, particularly for low income and marginalized groups (10). COVID-19-induced adversities, especially nancial challenges, can lead to instability in daily environments that damages pathways to exercising agency in substance use or non-use (11). Further, public health measures intended to reduce COVID-19 transmission across the population ignore the social realities in which many PWOUD live (12).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Disruptions during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Disasters: A Scoping Review Addressing Dual Public Health Emergencies

Henderson

McInnes

Mackey

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: During public health emergencies, disruptions to social landscapes and amplification of inequities for people with opioid use disorder raise important questions about reducing harms and providing treatment accountability to support this population during disasters including COVID-19. This research aims to a) identify how disasters impact persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their access to healthcare, with specific attention to COVID-19, and b) inform ongoing responses to the pandemic and future disaster-mitigation plans related to healthcare disruptions affecting persons with opioid use disorder (PWOUD). Methods: We conducted knowledge synthesis based on a 6-stage scoping review framework methodology. Stakeholder consultation was completed using a Nominal Group Technique with two groups, each composed of including providers in primary, emergency and community-based care. One group (n=7) represented voices from urban services, and the other (n=4) Indigenous contexts allowing for attention to healing the whole person, beyond OAT. Results: 61 scientific journal articles and 72 grey literature resources were included after full-text screening. Stakeholder NGT process revealed three contextual factors affecting system and service accountability for responsive OUD care during disaster-driven disruptions: (1) disasters focus attention on single risks and generalized solutions; (2) data-poor decision-making perpetuates stigma and produces policy inattentive to social determinants of health; and (3) harm reduction and contextually-tailored care prepare a system for future disasters. Conclusion: COVID-19 public health efforts require a coordinated systemic approach to serving PWOUD, based on accountability to patients and support for providers.

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Avoiding a new epidemic during a pandemic: The importance of assessing the risk of substance use disorders in the COVID-19 era

Cited by 34 publications

References 3 publications

Evaluating the impact of COVID-19: A cohort comparison study of drug use and risky sexual behavior among sexual minority men in the U.S.A.

Evaluating the impact of COVID-19: A cohort comparison study of drug use and risky sexual behavior among sexual minority men in the U.S.A.

A global survey on changes in the supply, price and use of illicit drugs and alcohol, and related complications during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Disruptions during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Disasters: A Scoping Review Addressing Dual Public Health Emergencies

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