Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19: Multi-Faceted Problems Which Require Multi-Pronged Solutions

Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19: Multi-Faceted Problems Which Require Multi-Pronged Solutions

Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie, Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie, Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie, Jennifer Stewart Williams, Jennifer Stewart Williams, Malin Eriksson, Ann-Sofie Grönlund, Nawi Ng, Nawi Ng, Marcus Blom Nilsson, Mojgan Padyab, Mojgan Padyab, Kelsey Caroline Priest, Mikael Sandlund, Fredrik Snellman, Dennis McCarty, Lena M. Lundgren, Lena M. Lundgren

COVID-19 shocked health and economic systems leaving millions of people without employment and safety nets. The pandemic disproportionately affects people with substance use disorders (SUDs) due to the collision between SUDs and COVID-19. Comorbidities and risk environments for SUDs are likely risk factors for COVID-19. The pandemic, in turn, diminishes resources that people with SUD need for their recovery and well-being. This article presents an interdisciplinary and international perspective on how COVID-19 and the related systemic shock impact on individuals with SUDs directly and indirectly. We highlight a need to understand SUDs as biopsychosocial disorders and use evidence-based policies to destigmatize SUDs. We recommend a suite of multi-sectorial actions and strategies to strengthen, modernize and complement addiction care systems which will become resilient and responsive to future systemic shocks similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020

covid-19, Pandemic, integrated care, social capital, Substance use disorder (SUD), addiction care

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00714

Epidemiology and Health

Korean Society of Epidemiology

Psychiatry