Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19 : Multi-Faceted Problems Which Require Multi-Pronged Solutions
Abstract
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.
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Englisch
Verlag
Umeå universitet, Institutionen för socialt arbete; Umeå universitet, Enheten för demografi och åldrandeforskning (CEDAR); Umeå universitet, Institutionen för epidemiologi och global hälsa; Umeå universitet, Psykiatri; The Swedish National Graduate School for Competitive Science on Ageing and Health (SWEAH), Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; MD/PhD Program, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Oregon Health & Science University- Portland State University, School of Public Health, Portland, OR, United States; Cross-National Behavioral Health Laboratory, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
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