COVID-19 and Substance Use Disorder: Study Protocol for the International Society of Addiction Medicine Practice and Policy Interest Group Global Survey

et al. 2020

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people with substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide, and healthcare systems have reorganized their services in response to the pandemic. Methods: One week after the announcement of the COVID-19 as a pandemic, in a global survey, 177 addiction medicine professionals described COVID-19-related health responses in their own 77 countries in terms of SUD treatment and harm reduction services. The health response is categorized around (1) managerial measures and systems, (2) logistics, (3) service providers, and (4) vulnerable groups. Results: Respondents from over 88% of countries reported that core medical and psychiatric care for SUDs had continued; however, only 56% of countries reported having had any business continuity plan, and 37.5% of countries reported shortages of methadone or buprenorphine supplies. Participants of 41% of countries reported partial discontinuation of harm-reduction services such as needle and syringe programs and condom distribution. 57% of overdose prevention interventions and 81% of outreach services also having been negatively impacted. Conclusions: Participants reported that SUD treatment and harm reduction services had been significantly impacted globally early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, we provide a series of recommendations to support countries to be prepared more efficiently for future waves or similar pandemics to 1) help policymakers generate business continuity plans, 2) maintain the use of evidence-based interventions for people with SUDs, 3) be prepared for adequate medication supplies, 4) integrate harm reduction programs with other treatment modalities and 5) have specific considerations for vulnerable groups such as immigrants and refugees.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey

Radfar

Jong

et al. 2020

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“…Designing a global in-depth epidemiologic study, apart from questions about its feasibility, is challenging during the pandemic. Therefore, the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) designed a comprehensive global survey and collected expert opinions from their membership on perceived changes on substance use situation and health system responses around the first week of April 2020 in what aims to be a longitudinal study (18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

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

Radfar

Rafei

et al. 2020

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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.

“…Additionally, a multi-phase global survey was conducted by the ISAM COVID-19 team in order to better understand the impact the acute stages of COVID-19 had on treatment and harm reduction services to PWSUD populations and their responses. The details of the methodology have been published as a study protocol (22). The participants consisted of nationally-representative informants from different countries who were experts in the eld of addiction medicine and active in substance use treatment at different levels of policy and/or service during the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Published evidence demonstrates that people with substance use disorder (PWSUD) are at increased risk of COVID-19 and its associated complications (22). On the other hand substance use disorder (SUD) is considered to get more complicated during the COVID-19 pandemic (25).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substance use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services for Migrants and Refugees in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Global Survey

Jong

Vahidi

et al. 2020

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Migrants and refugees are considered vulnerable to mental health problems and substance use disorders; and may be particularly affected by service disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) ran a multi-phased global survey among clinicians and health professional that are actively working in the field of addiction medicine to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use and related services. In March 2020, the first month after the announcement of the pandemic by the World Health Organization, 177 informants from 77 countries took part in the global survey, and only 12.9% of them reported their countries’ substance use treatment and harm reduction services for the migrants and refugees with substance use disorders continued as usual. In May 2020, 11.7% of respondents of the second phase reported that the services for refugees and migrants improved in comparison to March 2020; 11.7% reported that these services in their country discontinued. Results suggest that refugee and migrants access to treatment and harm reduction services has been reduced as a result of COVID-19. It can be concluded that it is crucial to improve the visibility of migrants’ needs and exploit appropriate interventions for those with substance use disorders.