COVID-19 and people who use drugs; seizing opportunity in times of chaos

Wisse, Ernst; Burke-Shyne, Naomi; Chang, Judy; Southwell, Mat

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103097

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…The pandemic could be seen as a ‘window of opportunity’ to rethink policy and practice, with some impacts viewed as positive by PWID (e.g. changes to OST provision) ( Wisse et al, 2021 ). For example, decision-making about continuing changes made to OST prescribing should be informed by evidence these changes are viewed positively by service users.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the United Kingdom (UK) and worldwide, COVID-19 has resulted in rapid and unprecedented changes to society, with public health measures to limit the spread of infection affecting housing services, healthcare systems, harm reduction and drug treatment provision ( Wisse et al, 2021 ). These changes are expected to have severe direct and indirect impacts on People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) ( Jacka et al, 2020 ), a population often living unstable lives in a system of fragile state-provided support.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These circumstances increase the need for harm reduction and drug treatment, at a time when access to services may be reduced ( UNAIDS, 2020 ; Wisse et al, 2021 ). Needle and syringe programmes (NSP) reduce transmission of blood-borne viruses, and opioid substitution therapy (OST) improves health outcomes ( Platt et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Living Under Coronavirus and Injecting Drugs in Bristol (LUCID-B): A qualitative study of experiences of COVID-19 among people who inject drugs

Kesten¹,

Holland²,

Linton³

et al. 2021

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Background : People who inject drugs (PWID) are a high-risk group for COVID-19 transmission and serious health consequences. Restrictions imposed in the UK in response to the pandemic led to rapid health and housing service alterations. We aimed to examine PWID experiences of: 1) challenges relating to the COVID-19 public health measures; 2) changes to opioid substitution therapy (OST) and harm reduction services; and 3) perceived effects of COVID-19 on drug use patterns and risk behaviour. Methods : Telephone semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 PWID in Bristol, Southwest of England. Analysis followed a reflexive thematic analysis. Results : Concern about COVID-19 and adherence to public health guidance varied. Efforts made by services to continue providing support during the pandemic were appreciated and some changes were preferred, such as less frequent OST collection, relaxation of supervised consumption and needle and syringe programmes (NSP) home delivery. However, remote forms of contact were highlighted as less beneficial and more difficult to engage with than in-person contact. Public health guidance advising people to ‘stay home’ led to increased isolation, boredom, and time to ruminate which impacted negatively on mental health. Lockdown restrictions directly impacted on sources of income and routine. Changes in drug use were explained as a consequence of isolation and fewer interactions with peers, problems accessing drugs, reduced drug purity and reduced financial resources. Conclusion : This study captures the significant impacts and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of PWID. While rapid adaptations to service delivery to help mitigate the risks of COVID-19 were appreciated and some changes such as relaxation of supervised daily OST consumption were viewed positively, barriers to access need further attention. Going forwards there may be opportunities to harness the positive aspects of some changes to services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Living Under Coronavirus and Injecting Drugs in Bristol (LUCID-B): A qualitative study of experiences of COVID-19 among people who inject drugs

Kesten¹,

Holland²,

Linton³

et al. 2021

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Future studies should complement this through research and monitoring – particularly with regard to high-risk users (who may be underrepresented in our sample) that exhibit symptoms of harmful use or dependence ( Dietze & Peacock, 2020 ; EMCDDA, 2020 ). Those measures need to be interconnected with the provision and availability of health services and aspects of clinical practice and drug policy ( Wisse et al, 2021 ; Zolopa et al, 2021 ). In the short and long term, with respect to the further progress of the pandemic and implications after the pandemic, potentially harmful use patterns need attention and further research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the short and long term, with respect to the further progress of the pandemic and implications after the pandemic, potentially harmful use patterns need attention and further research. Supervision, prevention, and education on different dimensions, as well as the provision of professional support to deal with difficulties on personal, social, or economic levels, are of high relevance – both during and after the pandemic ( Helbig et al, 2019 ; Wisse et al, 2021 ; Zolopa et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No party, no drugs? Use of stimulants, dissociative drugs, and GHB/GBL during the early COVID-19 pandemic

Bendau

Viohl

Petzold

et al. 2022

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Background : The COVID-19 pandemic is presumably having an impact on the consumption of psychoactive substances. Social distancing and lockdown measures may particularly affect the use of “party drugs” (e.g., stimulants, dissociatives, and GHB/GBL) through the absence of typical use settings. We aimed to analyse the use patterns of those substances and underlying motivations before and during the pandemic. Methods : A subsample of 1,231 users of stimulants (amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA/ecstasy, cocaine), dissociative drugs (ketamine, dextromethorphan, PCP), and GHB/GBL was assessed from 30 th April to 4 th August 2020 as part of the Corona Drug Survey , a cross-sectional international online survey in five languages that included a total of 5,049 participants. The reported use of distinct substances and the underlying motivations were ascertained before (retrospectively) and during the pandemic. Furthermore, associations between drug use as a coping mechanism, pandemic-related stressors, and substance use were examined. Results : Regarding the reported frequency of use during the pandemic, 48.0–64.8% of the sample ceased or decreased, 11.9–25.5% maintained, and 23.6–29.1% increased their consumption. MDMA/ecstasy showed the strongest decrease and GHB/GBL and dissociatives the highest increase. Participants reported that price, quality, and supply were mostly unaffected by the pandemic. The most common motivations before and during the pandemic were mood-related factors, such as a desire to feel exhilarated, euphoric, high, or buzzed. The relevance of social purposes and mood-related motivators declined during the pandemic, whereas dealing with boredom increased. Overall, 16.4–35.6% perceived drug use as helpful for dealing with pandemic-related stressors, which were associated with an increased consumption frequency. Conclusion : The early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with major changes in the use of “party drugs”. Those who increased their level of drug use and perceived it as a coping strategy in particular might be targeted with adaptive preventive and therapeutic measures.

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Examining the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 and associated control measures on interventions to prevent blood-borne viruses among people who inject drugs in Scotland: an interrupted time series study

Trayner

McAuley

Palmateer

et al. 2022

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background COVID-19 has likely affected the delivery of interventions to prevent blood-borne viruses (BBVs) among people who inject drugs (PWID). We examined the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 in Scotland on: 1) needle and syringe provision (NSP), 2) opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and 3) BBV testing. Methods An interrupted time series study design; 23rd March 2020 (date of the first ‘lockdown’) was chosen as the key date. Results The number of HIV tests and HCV tests in drug services/prisons, and the number of needles/syringes (N/S) distributed decreased by 94% (RR=0.062, 95% CI 0.041–0.094, p < 0.001), 95% (RR=0.049, 95% CI 0.034–0.069, p < 0.001) and 18% (RR = 0.816, 95% CI 0.750–0.887, p < 0.001), respectively, immediately after lockdown. Post-lockdown, an increasing trend was observed relating to the number of N/S distributed (0.6%; RR = 1.006, 95% CI 1.001–1.012, p = 0.015), HIV tests (12.1%; RR = 1.121, 95% CI 1.092–1.152, p < 0.001) and HCV tests (13.2%; RR = 1.132, 95 CI 1.106–1.158, p < 0.001). Trends relating to the total amount of methadone prescribed remained stable, but a decreasing trend in the number of prescriptions (2.4%; RR = 0.976, 95% CI 0.959–0.993, p = 0.006) and an increasing trend in the quantity prescribed per prescription (2.8%; RR = 1.028, 95% CI 1.013–1.042, p < 0.001) was observed post-lockdown. Conclusions COVID-19 impacted the delivery of BBV prevention services for PWID in Scotland. While there is evidence of service recovery; further effort is likely required to return some intervention coverage to pre-pandemic levels in the context of subsequent waves of COVID-19.

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COVID-19 and people who use drugs; seizing opportunity in times of chaos

Cited by 8 publications

References 14 publications

Living Under Coronavirus and Injecting Drugs in Bristol (LUCID-B): A qualitative study of experiences of COVID-19 among people who inject drugs

Living Under Coronavirus and Injecting Drugs in Bristol (LUCID-B): A qualitative study of experiences of COVID-19 among people who inject drugs

No party, no drugs? Use of stimulants, dissociative drugs, and GHB/GBL during the early COVID-19 pandemic

Examining the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 and associated control measures on interventions to prevent blood-borne viruses among people who inject drugs in Scotland: an interrupted time series study

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