Comparison of Characteristics of Deaths From Drug Overdose Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rhode Island

Abstract

Key Points Question Were there changes in the rate and characteristics of deaths from drug overdose before vs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island? Findings In this population-based cohort study of 470 adults who died of drug overdose in Rhode Island from January 1 to August 31 in 2019 and 2020, rates of death from overdose among men, deaths involving synthetic opioids, and deaths occurring in personal residences increased significantly in 2020 compared with 2019. Deaths due to overdose also increased among people experiencing job loss and in subgroups with mental health diagnoses. Meaning These findings suggest that policy and service delivery interventions that are responsive to emerging characteristics of deaths from drug overdose are needed to curtail these deaths.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on temporal patterns of mental health and substance abuse related mortality in Michigan: An interrupted time series analysis

“…The pattern of increase agrees with studies of overdose mortality in other regions. 53 , 54 There are distinct pathways by which the pandemic may influence substance use-related mortality, despite the lack of increase in suicide deaths. Unlike suicide, substance use can also serve as a coping mechanism for psychosocial stressors.…”

“… 55 Joblessness among low wage earners is suspected to play a role in higher rates of opioid overdoses during the pandemic. 53 , 56 In the past, economic downturns were also associated with increased numbers of opioid overdose deaths— particularly in white men under the age of 45—and macro-economic conditions drive opioid related deaths. 15 Long-term unemployment is also a risk factor for overdose-related deaths.…”

COVID-19 outcomes among adult patients treated with long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain in the USA: a retrospective cohort study

“…Recent statistics show a 38.4% increase in opioid-related deaths from June 2019 to May 2020, 4 and state-level data have linked stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic to surge in fatal overdoses. 5 Literature suggests the opioid crisis has been escalated by a lack of access to drug screening and treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) due to care disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic. 6 Ongoing opioid addiction prevention efforts have also been disrupted by social distancing practices and isolation that can contribute to the misuse of prescription or illicit opioids.…”

Drugs of Abuse and Their Impact on Viral Pathogenesis

“…Addiction services and treatment options were also severely limited to align with new social distancing norms. Recent reports now confirm that drug overdose deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic [196][197][198][199]. Wang et al recently reported that persons with SUD were at significantly increased risk for COVID-19 and worse outcomes [200].…”