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Substance Abuse Volume 41, 2020 - Issue 3
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Commentary

COVID-19 and persons with substance use disorders: Inequities and mitigation strategies

Osnat C. MelamedAddictions Research Group, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ;Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ORCID Iconhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-9663-2226
, MD, MScORCID Icon,
Tanya S. HauckAddictions Research Group, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ;Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
, MD, PhD,
Leslie BuckleyAddictions Research Group, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ;Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
, MD, MPH,
Peter SelbyAddictions Research Group, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ;Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ;Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ;Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCorrespondence[email protected]
ORCID Iconhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5401-2996
, MBBS, MHScORCID Icon &
Benoit H. MulsantAddictions Research Group, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ;Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
, MD, MS
Pages 286-291 | Published online: 22 Jul 2020
 
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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately disrupts the daily lives of marginalized populations. Persons with substance use disorders are a particularly vulnerable population because of their unique social and health care needs. They face significant harm from both the pandemic itself and its social and economic consequences, including marginalization in health care and social systems. Hence, we discuss: (1) why persons with substance use disorders are at increased risk for infection with COVID-19 and a severe illness course; (2) anticipated adverse consequences of COVID-19 in persons with substance use disorders; (3) challenges to health care delivery and substance use treatment programs during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; and (4) the potential impact on clinical research in substance use disorders. We offer recommendations for clinical, public health, and social policies to mitigate these challenges and to prevent negative outcomes.

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