2021
DOI: 10.1007/s40122-021-00243-2
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

COVID-19 and the Opioid Epidemic: Two Public Health Emergencies That Intersect With Chronic Pain

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world and catapulted the United States into one of the deepest recessions in history. While this pandemic rages, the opioid crisis worsens. During this period, the pandemic has resulted in the decimation of most conventional medical services, including those of chronic pain management, with the exception of virtual care and telehealth. Many chronic pain patients have been impacted in numerous ways, with increases in cardiovascular disease, mental health problems, c… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
3
1
1

Citation Types

1
76
0
5

Year Published

2021
2021
2023
2023

Publication Types

Select...
6
1

Relationship

0
7

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 65 publications
(82 citation statements)
references
References 65 publications
1
76
0
5
Order By: Relevance
“…Factors common in chronic pain populations are older age, lower socioeconomic status, smoking status, co-occurring chronic diseases, residence in nursing facilities, and limited access to care (Manchikanti et al, 2021). These factors overlap with the risks associated with COVID-19 infection and poorer outcomes, and pain morbidity can be amplified during COVID-19 infections (Eccleston et al, 2020;Mun et al, 2021).…”
Section: Covid-19 and Chronic Painmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 2 more Smart Citations
“…Factors common in chronic pain populations are older age, lower socioeconomic status, smoking status, co-occurring chronic diseases, residence in nursing facilities, and limited access to care (Manchikanti et al, 2021). These factors overlap with the risks associated with COVID-19 infection and poorer outcomes, and pain morbidity can be amplified during COVID-19 infections (Eccleston et al, 2020;Mun et al, 2021).…”
Section: Covid-19 and Chronic Painmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Acute pain management service teams have been diverted into the intensive care units, and available chronic pain services have decreased (Alonso-Matielo et al, 2021). During the peak of pandemic, there were medication shortages and a scarcity of resources such as ventilators or ECMO, with only emergency services available (Eccleston et al, 2020;Manchikanti et al, 2021). Patients were instructed to either stay away from health care or to socially distance (Eccleston et al, 2020), and if health care appointments were made, limitations of public transportation created barriers to getting to clinical setting (Frost, 2020).…”
Section: Covid-related Pain Can Worsen Chronic Painmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…Various investigators have noted that the increased interest in kratom seemed to coincide with several aspects of the evolving opioid crisis in the United States (Boyer et al, 2008;Prozialeck et al, 2012;Prozialeck, 2016;Bestha, 2018;Coe et al, 2019;Prozialeck et al, 2019) and that recent restrictions on access to prescription opioids for pain management may have further increased demand for kratom (Prozialeck, 2016;Prozialeck et al, 2019). With the emergence of COVID-19 in 2019, and the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many patients may have faced even further reductions in access to prescription opioids, which could have contributed to an increase in the use of illicit "street" opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and new fentanyl analogs (Manchikanti et al, 2021;Nguyen and Buxton, 2021). It seems likely that this increase in the use of street opioids and the concomitant problems of opioid dependence may have further increased demand for kratom.…”
Section: Evidence For Increased Interest In Kratommentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The lack of access to medicallyassisted care for patients with opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly severe (Jacka et al, 2021;Joudrey et al, 2021). These factors have probably resulted in a well-documented surge in the abuse of street opioids and their many attendant problems (CDC, 2021;Manchikanti et al, 2021). At the same time, it would be expected that the demand for kratom products would increase concomitantly (Singh et al, 2020).…”
Section: Impact Of the Covid-19 Pandemic On Supply And Demand For Kratommentioning
confidence: 99%