Narasimha, Venkata Lakshmi and Butner, Jenna and Hanafi, Enjeline and Farokhnia, Mehdi and Bhad, Roshan and Chalabianloo, Fatemeh and Kouimtsidis, Christos and Baldacchino, Alexander and Arunogiri, Shalini (2022) Harm reduction and abstinence-based models for treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a global perspective. BJPsych International, 19, (3), pp. 66-69. doi: 10.1192/bji.2022.1.
External website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-in...
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected treatment services for people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Based on the perspectives of service providers from eight countries, we discuss the impact of the pandemic on SUD treatment services. Although many countries quickly adapted in provision of harm reduction services by changes in policy and service delivery, some went into a forced abstinence-based strategy. Similarly, disruption of abstinence-based approaches such as therapeutic communities has been reported. Global awareness is crucial for responsible management of SUDs during the pandemic, and the development of international health policy guidelines is an urgent need in this area.
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Communicable / infectious disease > Viral disease / infection > Coronavirus (COVID-19)
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Harm reduction > Substance use harm reduction
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Treatment and maintenance > Treatment factors
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Treatment and maintenance > Provider / worker / staff attitude toward treatment
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use > Harm reduction policy
VA Geographic area > International
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