This policy brief highlights key findings from a national survey of people who use substances about their perceptions of and experiences with accessing virtual services through telemedicine, video conference and other apps.

COVID-19 restrictions led to an abrupt pivot from in-person services to virtual care. To understand this change, we1 studied perceptions of and experiences with virtual services and supports (VSS) for substance use (SU), substance use disorders (SUD) and concurrent disorders (CD).2 A national survey asked people living across Canada about their satisfaction with VSS, and their perceptions of the effectiveness of and barriers to these services. Interviews with practitioners who provide VSS explored the implications of offering these services. The full study will be available by the end of 2021.

This document is for governments, policy makers, and healthcare providers and administrators. It provides considerations for the integration of virtual components into services and supports for SU, SUD and CD after the pandemic.