Converging public health crises: substance use during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose of review The international, public health crisis caused by the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in unforeseen medical and psychiatric consequences. We reviewed publications from January 2020 to January 2021, given that earlier documents were not relevant, to review findings on changes in substance use and overdoses during the pandemic. Additionally, this review of the literature also documents advocacy efforts, health service modification and challenges, as well as COVID-related health complications associated with substance use. Recent findings Recent work focused on identifying changes in the distribution and use of substances as well as the unique challenges to promoting the health of persons who use substances in the current pandemic. Although COVID-19 has triggered unprecedented innovations in the organizational and public policy, the use of certain substances (alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, fentanyl, heroin, and opiates) is increasing internationally. Unique associations between substance use and pandemic-related adverse health outcomes were identified. In addition, the pandemic precipitated significant barriers and disruptions to care. Summary Given increased overdose rates and infections among people who use drugs, continued surveillance and vigilance are needed to assess changes and reduce use and adverse consequences during the continuing COVID-19 crisis. Changes are urgently needed to reduce adverse health outcomes because of treatment barriers and lack of adequate treatment options. Additionally, integrative approaches are necessary to promote the public health of persons who use substances.

Assessing the impact of social distancing measures implemented during COVID-19 pandemic on medications for opioid use disorder in West Virginia

“…Further investigation using other methodologies may aid in supporting this hypothesis. Moreover, given the growing evidence that the substance use epidemic has been exacerbated during this time, placing our findings into the broader environment of substance use disorder in WV during the COVID-19 pandemic is key ( Khoury, Preiss, Geiger, Anwar, & Conway, 2021 ; Niles, Gudin, Radcliff, & Kaufman, 2021 ; Striley & Hoeflich, 2021 ).…”

Initial risk factors, self-compassion trajectories, and well-being outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A person-centered approach

“…Building on these limitations, future research may explore different mental health outcomes associated with these risk factors and self-compassion trajectories, including separately examining anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as exploring specific areas of difficulties such as eating disorders or substance use, both of which have increased drastically during the pandemic ( Striley and Hoeflich, 2021 ; Taquet et al, 2022 ). Additionally, although many of the variables in our study were required to be self-reported (e.g., self-compassion is theoretically only known by the respondent), future work involving observational or clinical assessments of mental health and health-related risk factors such as sleep quality or length may be helpful to increase the validity of these results.…”

Unique Pharmacology, Brain Dysfunction, and Therapeutic Advancements for Fentanyl Misuse and Abuse

“…Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the misuse and abuse of fentanyl appear to have persistently increased in the United States and elsewhere [ 11 ]. Overdose deaths and infections among people who use drugs, including fentanyl, increased during the COVID-19 crisis [ 12 – 14 ]. A study in Ontario, Canada, showed that fentanyl use increased by 108% among patients who were treated with opioid receptor agonists [ 15 ].…”