4 principles for treating substance use disorder safely and effectively during the pandemic
, COVID-19, has been wreaking havoc on a global scale. Since the first case appeared in the U.S. in January, over 750,000 people have been infected with this contagious pathogen and over 41,000 have died, with over 10,000 in New York City alone. Every aspect of society has been impacted by what is projected to be the largest mass casualty event in American history.
Prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak, we were dealing with another epidemic: drug overdose, fueled mostly by opioids. As an internal medicine and addiction medicine physician, I am acutely aware of the unique challenges faced by men and women who experience substance use disorders . Sadly, of the 23 million Americans diagnosed with an SUD, only 10% access treatment. Barriers clearly existed before the pandemic, and they will sadly worsen if we don’t take action.
Many individuals with SUD – depending on the severity of their disease and their access to financial and social supports – cycle in and out of homeless shelters, emergency departments, rehab centers and correctional facilities such as jails and prisons. In addition, SUD is often associated with other acute and chronic comorbidities such as heart disease, lung disease, cancer, and mental illness.
Addiction treatment also happens in various settings and this adds another layer of difficulty in reducing transmission of COVID-19. While most SUD treatment occurs in outpatient settings, many other treatment sites range from hospitals and inpatient detox/rehab facilities to opioid treatment programs and residential facilities.
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