19/04/2021
#1231: HOW DID COVID-19 AFFECT SUBSTANCE USE?
Abstract 1231
HOW DID COVID-19 AFFECT SUBSTANCE USE?
Type:
Abstract Submission
Topic: AS14 COVID-19
Authors: J. Sá Couto, J. Cavaco Rodrigues, B. Afonso da Luz, M.Â. Pão Trigo, T. Ventura Gil; Centro Hospitalar
Universitário do Algarve, Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental, Faro, Portugal
Objectives
Clarifying COVID-19 infection risk in people with substance use disorder (SUD); Understanding how COVID-19
pandemic affects substance use; Identifying COVID-19 consequences in people with addiction; Pointing out
solutions to prevent disruptions in healthcare access.
Methods
PubMed database search, with “substance use COVID-19” keyword expression. 18 articles were selected among
the 50 best matches. Reference lists of articles were reviewed to identify additional articles.
Results
Addictive behaviors surged during this period. Studies suggest increase in alcohol (10-18% of adults), cannabis
(6-8%), and other drugs (3%) consumption, and such increase was even higher among people who consumed
substances prior to the pandemic. Negative emotions, stress and isolation could serve as a trigger for
substance use, SUD in general, and for relapse even in long-term abstainers. Opioid dependence should not be
disregarded, because people undergoing daily dispensing agonist treatment may relapse when missing a
single dosage at the time of lockdown. Use of telehealth in the form of online or telephone psychiatry
consultation may be a way for improving access to care in public health emergency times. Street level harm
reduction is also a viable strategy, but subject to personal protective equipment.
Conclusions
People with SUD are at higher risk of infection. Substance use is a reported way of coping with anxiety
concerning COVID-19. Traditional support systems rupture may contribute to alcohol withdrawal seizures,
accidental overdoses, and death. Thus, developing new resources to deal with the drug situation and new
trends of drug abuse is of utmost importance.
Print
https://cpaper.ctimeetingtech.com/wcp21/submission/preview/print?publication_id=1231
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