Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey

Seyed Ramin Radfar; Cornelis A.J. De Jong; Ali Farhoudian; Mohsen Ebrahimi; Parnian Rafei; Mehrnoosh Vahidi; Masud Yunesian; Christos Kouimtsidis; Shalini Arunogiri; Omid Massah; Abbas Deylamizadeh; Kathleen T. Brady; Anja Busse; Marc N. Potenza; Hamed Ekhtiari; Alexander Mario Baldacchino; ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393

Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey

Seyed Ramin Radfar, Cornelis A.J. De Jong, Ali Farhoudian, Mohsen Ebrahimi, Parnian Rafei, Mehrnoosh Vahidi, Masud Yunesian, Christos Kouimtsidis, Shalini Arunogiri, Omid Massah, Abbas Deylamizadeh, Kathleen T. Brady, Anja Busse, Marc N. Potenza, Hamed Ekhtiari, Alexander Mario Baldacchino, ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted people with substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide, and healthcare systems have reorganized their services in response to the pandemic. Methods: One week after the announcement of the COVID-19 as a pandemic, in a global survey, 177 addiction medicine professionals described COVID-19-related health responses in their own 77 countries in terms of SUD treatment and harm reduction services. The health responses were categorized around (1) managerial measures and systems, (2) logistics, (3) service providers, and (4) vulnerable groups. Results: Respondents from over 88% of countries reported that core medical and psychiatric care for SUDs had continued; however, only 56% of countries reported having had any business continuity plan, and 37.5% of countries reported shortages of methadone or buprenorphine supplies. Participants of 41% of countries reported partial discontinuation of harm-reduction services such as needle and syringe programs and condom distribution. Fifty-seven percent of overdose prevention interventions and 81% of outreach services were also negatively impacted. Conclusions: Participants reported that SUD treatment and harm-reduction services had been significantly impacted globally early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, we highlight several issues and complications resulting from the pandemic concerning people with SUDs that should be tackled more efficiently during the future waves or similar pandemics. The issues and potential strategies comprise the following: (1) helping policymakers to generate business continuity plans, (2) maintaining the use of evidence-based interventions for people with SUDs, (3) being prepared for adequate medication supplies, (4) integrating harm reduction programs with other treatment modalities, and (5) having specific considerations for vulnerable groups such as immigrants and refugees.

Original language	English
Article number	639393
Number of pages	16
Journal	Frontiers in Psychiatry
Volume	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393
Publication status	Published - 29 Apr 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

addiction services
COVID-19 pandemic
drug policy
harm reduction
opioid agonist treatment
public health
substance use disorder

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Radfar, S. R., De Jong, C. A. J., Farhoudian, A., Ebrahimi, M., Rafei, P., Vahidi, M., Yunesian, M., Kouimtsidis, C., Arunogiri, S., Massah, O., Deylamizadeh, A., Brady, K. T., Busse, A., Potenza, M. N., Ekhtiari, H., Baldacchino, A. M., & ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium (2021). Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, Article 639393. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393

@article{a2560daa4fa5497a849f3c376581c437,

title = "Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey",

abstract = "Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted people with substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide, and healthcare systems have reorganized their services in response to the pandemic. Methods: One week after the announcement of the COVID-19 as a pandemic, in a global survey, 177 addiction medicine professionals described COVID-19-related health responses in their own 77 countries in terms of SUD treatment and harm reduction services. The health responses were categorized around (1) managerial measures and systems, (2) logistics, (3) service providers, and (4) vulnerable groups. Results: Respondents from over 88% of countries reported that core medical and psychiatric care for SUDs had continued; however, only 56% of countries reported having had any business continuity plan, and 37.5% of countries reported shortages of methadone or buprenorphine supplies. Participants of 41% of countries reported partial discontinuation of harm-reduction services such as needle and syringe programs and condom distribution. Fifty-seven percent of overdose prevention interventions and 81% of outreach services were also negatively impacted. Conclusions: Participants reported that SUD treatment and harm-reduction services had been significantly impacted globally early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, we highlight several issues and complications resulting from the pandemic concerning people with SUDs that should be tackled more efficiently during the future waves or similar pandemics. The issues and potential strategies comprise the following: (1) helping policymakers to generate business continuity plans, (2) maintaining the use of evidence-based interventions for people with SUDs, (3) being prepared for adequate medication supplies, (4) integrating harm reduction programs with other treatment modalities, and (5) having specific considerations for vulnerable groups such as immigrants and refugees.",

keywords = "addiction services, COVID-19 pandemic, drug policy, harm reduction, opioid agonist treatment, public health, substance use disorder",

author = "Radfar, {Seyed Ramin} and {De Jong}, {Cornelis A.J.} and Ali Farhoudian and Mohsen Ebrahimi and Parnian Rafei and Mehrnoosh Vahidi and Masud Yunesian and Christos Kouimtsidis and Shalini Arunogiri and Omid Massah and Abbas Deylamizadeh and Brady, {Kathleen T.} and Anja Busse and Potenza, {Marc N.} and Hamed Ekhtiari and Baldacchino, {Alexander Mario} and Abagiu, {Adrian Octavian} and Abouna, {Franck David Noel} and Ahmed, {Mohamed Hassan} and Basma Al-ansari and {Mahmmoud Abu Al-khair}, Feda and Almaqbali, {Mandhar Humaid} and Atul Ambekar and Ardabili, {Hossein Mohaddes} and Sidharth Arya and Lasebikan, {Victor Olufolahan} and Ayasreh, {Murad Ali} and Debasish Basu and Zoubir Benmebarek and Roshan Bhad and Mario Blaise and Nicolas Bonnet and Jennifer Brasch and Barbara Broers and Butner, {Jenna L.} and Moses Camilleri and Giovanna Campello and Giuseppe Carra and Ivan Celic and Fatemeh Chalabianloo and Abhishek Chaturvedi and {de Jes{\'u}s Eduardo Noyola Cherpitel}, Jos{\'e} and Clark, {Kelly J.} and Cyders, {Melissa Anne} and {de Bernardis}, Ernesto and Derry, {John Edward} and Dhagudu, {Naveen Kumar} and Pavla Dolezalova and Geert Dom and Dunlop, {Adrian John} and Elhabiby, {Mahmoud Mamdouh} and Hussien Elkholy and Essien, {Nsidibe Francis} and Farah, {Ghandi Ilias} and Marica Ferri and Floros, {Georgios D.} and Catherine Friedman and Fuderanan, {Clara Hidalgo} and Gilberto Gerra and Abhishek Ghosh and Maka Gogia and Grammatikopoulos, {Ilias A.} and Paolo Grandinetti and Amira Guirguis and David Gutnisky and Haber, {Paul Steven} and Peyman Hassani-Abharian and Zahra Hooshyari and Ibrahim, {Islam Ibrahim Mokhtar} and Ieong, {Hada Fong ha} and Indradewi, {Regina Nova} and Shelly Iskandar and Shobhit Jain and Sandi James and Javadi, {Seyyed Mohammad hossein} and Joe, {Keun Ho} and Darius Jokubonis and Jovanova, {Acka Tushevska} and Kamal, {Rama Mohamed} and Kantchelov, {Alexander Ivanov} and Preethy Kathiresan and Gary Katzman and Paul Kawale and Kern, {Audrey Margaret} and Kessler, {Felix Henrique Paim} and Kim, {Sung Gon Sue} and Kimball, {Ann Marie} and Zeljko Kljucevic and Kristiana Siste and Roneet Lev and Lee, {Hae Kook} and Aiste Lengvenyte and Shaul Lev-ran and Mabelya, {Geni Seseja} and Mahi, {Mohamed Ali El} and Maphisa, {J. Maphisa} and Icro Maremmani and Laura Masferrer and Orlagh McCambridge and McGovern, {Garrett Gregory} and Min, {Aung Kyi} and Amir Moghanibashi-Mansourieh and Jazman Mora-Rios and Mudalige, {Indika Udaya Kumara} and Diptadhi Mukherjee and Munira, {Pejic Munira} and Bronwyn Myers and {Menon T N}, Jayakrishnan and Narasimha, {Venkata Lakshmi} and Nkemakolam Ndionuka and Nejatisafa, {Ali Akbar} and Kamran Niaz and Nizami, {Asad Tamizuddin} and Nuijens, {Jan H.} and Laura Orsolini and Vantheara Oum and Oyemade, {Adegboyega Adekunle} and Palavra, {Irena Rojnia} and Pant, {Sagun Ballav} and Joselyn Paredes and Eric Peyron and {Alberto Quir{\'o}s}, Randall and Rouhollah Qurishi and Rafiq, {Noor ul Zaman} and Rao, {Ranjini Raghavendra} and Woraphat Ratta-apha and Raymond, {Karren Lee} and Jens Reimer and Eduardo Renaldo and Tara Rezapour and Robertson, {James Roy} and Carlos Roncero and Fazle Roub and Rubenstein, {Elizabeth Jane} and Rupp, {Claudia Ines} and Elizabeth Saenz and Mohammad Salehi and Lampros Samartzis and Sarubbo, {Laura Beatriz} and Nusa Segrec and Bigya Shah and Hongxian Shen and Tomohiro Shirasaka and Steve Shoptaw and Sintango, {Fransiskus Muronga} and Sosa, {Veronica Andrea} and Emilis Subata and Norberto Sztycberg and Fatemeh Taghizadeh and Teck, {Joseph Brian Tay Wee} and Christian Tjagvad and Marta Torrens and Twala, {Judith Meme} and Ramyadarshni Vadivel and Volpicelli, {Joseph Robert} and Jelmer Weijs and Wintoniw, {Steven Michael} and Apisak Wittayanookulluk and Marcin Wojnar and Sadia Yasir and Yimenu Yitayih and Min Zhao and Zonoozi, {Arash Khojasteh} and {ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 Radfar, De Jong, Farhoudian, Ebrahimi, Rafei, Vahidi, Yunesian, Kouimtsidis, Arunogiri, Massah, Deylamizadeh, Brady, Busse, ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium, Potenza, Ekhtiari and Baldacchino. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = apr,

day = "29",

doi = "10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Frontiers in Psychiatry",

issn = "1664-0640",

publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",

}

Radfar, SR, De Jong, CAJ, Farhoudian, A, Ebrahimi, M, Rafei, P, Vahidi, M, Yunesian, M, Kouimtsidis, C, Arunogiri, S, Massah, O, Deylamizadeh, A, Brady, KT, Busse, A, Potenza, MN, Ekhtiari, H, Baldacchino, AM & ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium 2021, 'Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey', Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 12, 639393. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

T2 - A Global Survey

AU - Radfar, Seyed Ramin

AU - De Jong, Cornelis A.J.

AU - Farhoudian, Ali

AU - Ebrahimi, Mohsen

AU - Rafei, Parnian

AU - Vahidi, Mehrnoosh

AU - Yunesian, Masud

AU - Kouimtsidis, Christos

AU - Arunogiri, Shalini

AU - Massah, Omid

AU - Deylamizadeh, Abbas

AU - Brady, Kathleen T.

AU - Busse, Anja

AU - Potenza, Marc N.

AU - Ekhtiari, Hamed

AU - Baldacchino, Alexander Mario

AU - Abagiu, Adrian Octavian

AU - Abouna, Franck David Noel

AU - Ahmed, Mohamed Hassan

AU - Al-ansari, Basma

AU - Mahmmoud Abu Al-khair, Feda

AU - Almaqbali, Mandhar Humaid

AU - Ambekar, Atul

AU - Ardabili, Hossein Mohaddes

AU - Arya, Sidharth

AU - Lasebikan, Victor Olufolahan

AU - Ayasreh, Murad Ali

AU - Basu, Debasish

AU - Benmebarek, Zoubir

AU - Bhad, Roshan

AU - Blaise, Mario

AU - Bonnet, Nicolas

AU - Brasch, Jennifer

AU - Broers, Barbara

AU - Butner, Jenna L.

AU - Camilleri, Moses

AU - Campello, Giovanna

AU - Carra, Giuseppe

AU - Celic, Ivan

AU - Chalabianloo, Fatemeh

AU - Chaturvedi, Abhishek

AU - de Jesús Eduardo Noyola Cherpitel, José

AU - Clark, Kelly J.

AU - Cyders, Melissa Anne

AU - de Bernardis, Ernesto

AU - Derry, John Edward

AU - Dhagudu, Naveen Kumar

AU - Dolezalova, Pavla

AU - Dom, Geert

AU - Dunlop, Adrian John

AU - Elhabiby, Mahmoud Mamdouh

AU - Elkholy, Hussien

AU - Essien, Nsidibe Francis

AU - Farah, Ghandi Ilias

AU - Ferri, Marica

AU - Floros, Georgios D.

AU - Friedman, Catherine

AU - Fuderanan, Clara Hidalgo

AU - Gerra, Gilberto

AU - Ghosh, Abhishek

AU - Gogia, Maka

AU - Grammatikopoulos, Ilias A.

AU - Grandinetti, Paolo

AU - Guirguis, Amira

AU - Gutnisky, David

AU - Haber, Paul Steven

AU - Hassani-Abharian, Peyman

AU - Hooshyari, Zahra

AU - Ibrahim, Islam Ibrahim Mokhtar

AU - Ieong, Hada Fong ha

AU - Indradewi, Regina Nova

AU - Iskandar, Shelly

AU - Jain, Shobhit

AU - James, Sandi

AU - Javadi, Seyyed Mohammad hossein

AU - Joe, Keun Ho

AU - Jokubonis, Darius

AU - Jovanova, Acka Tushevska

AU - Kamal, Rama Mohamed

AU - Kantchelov, Alexander Ivanov

AU - Kathiresan, Preethy

AU - Katzman, Gary

AU - Kawale, Paul

AU - Kern, Audrey Margaret

AU - Kessler, Felix Henrique Paim

AU - Kim, Sung Gon Sue

AU - Kimball, Ann Marie

AU - Kljucevic, Zeljko

AU - Siste, Kristiana

AU - Lev, Roneet

AU - Lee, Hae Kook

AU - Lengvenyte, Aiste

AU - Lev-ran, Shaul

AU - Mabelya, Geni Seseja

AU - Mahi, Mohamed Ali El

AU - Maphisa, J. Maphisa

AU - Maremmani, Icro

AU - Masferrer, Laura

AU - McCambridge, Orlagh

AU - McGovern, Garrett Gregory

AU - Min, Aung Kyi

AU - Moghanibashi-Mansourieh, Amir

AU - Mora-Rios, Jazman

AU - Mudalige, Indika Udaya Kumara

AU - Mukherjee, Diptadhi

AU - Munira, Pejic Munira

AU - Myers, Bronwyn

AU - Menon T N, Jayakrishnan

AU - Narasimha, Venkata Lakshmi

AU - Ndionuka, Nkemakolam

AU - Nejatisafa, Ali Akbar

AU - Niaz, Kamran

AU - Nizami, Asad Tamizuddin

AU - Nuijens, Jan H.

AU - Orsolini, Laura

AU - Oum, Vantheara

AU - Oyemade, Adegboyega Adekunle

AU - Palavra, Irena Rojnia

AU - Pant, Sagun Ballav

AU - Paredes, Joselyn

AU - Peyron, Eric

AU - Alberto Quirós, Randall

AU - Qurishi, Rouhollah

AU - Rafiq, Noor ul Zaman

AU - Rao, Ranjini Raghavendra

AU - Ratta-apha, Woraphat

AU - Raymond, Karren Lee

AU - Reimer, Jens

AU - Renaldo, Eduardo

AU - Rezapour, Tara

AU - Robertson, James Roy

AU - Roncero, Carlos

AU - Roub, Fazle

AU - Rubenstein, Elizabeth Jane

AU - Rupp, Claudia Ines

AU - Saenz, Elizabeth

AU - Salehi, Mohammad

AU - Samartzis, Lampros

AU - Sarubbo, Laura Beatriz

AU - Segrec, Nusa

AU - Shah, Bigya

AU - Shen, Hongxian

AU - Shirasaka, Tomohiro

AU - Shoptaw, Steve

AU - Sintango, Fransiskus Muronga

AU - Sosa, Veronica Andrea

AU - Subata, Emilis

AU - Sztycberg, Norberto

AU - Taghizadeh, Fatemeh

AU - Teck, Joseph Brian Tay Wee

AU - Tjagvad, Christian

AU - Torrens, Marta

AU - Twala, Judith Meme

AU - Vadivel, Ramyadarshni

AU - Volpicelli, Joseph Robert

AU - Weijs, Jelmer

AU - Wintoniw, Steven Michael

AU - Wittayanookulluk, Apisak

AU - Wojnar, Marcin

AU - Yasir, Sadia

AU - Yitayih, Yimenu

AU - Zhao, Min

AU - Zonoozi, Arash Khojasteh

AU - ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Radfar, De Jong, Farhoudian, Ebrahimi, Rafei, Vahidi, Yunesian, Kouimtsidis, Arunogiri, Massah, Deylamizadeh, Brady, Busse, ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium, Potenza, Ekhtiari and Baldacchino. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/4/29

Y1 - 2021/4/29

N2 - Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted people with substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide, and healthcare systems have reorganized their services in response to the pandemic. Methods: One week after the announcement of the COVID-19 as a pandemic, in a global survey, 177 addiction medicine professionals described COVID-19-related health responses in their own 77 countries in terms of SUD treatment and harm reduction services. The health responses were categorized around (1) managerial measures and systems, (2) logistics, (3) service providers, and (4) vulnerable groups. Results: Respondents from over 88% of countries reported that core medical and psychiatric care for SUDs had continued; however, only 56% of countries reported having had any business continuity plan, and 37.5% of countries reported shortages of methadone or buprenorphine supplies. Participants of 41% of countries reported partial discontinuation of harm-reduction services such as needle and syringe programs and condom distribution. Fifty-seven percent of overdose prevention interventions and 81% of outreach services were also negatively impacted. Conclusions: Participants reported that SUD treatment and harm-reduction services had been significantly impacted globally early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, we highlight several issues and complications resulting from the pandemic concerning people with SUDs that should be tackled more efficiently during the future waves or similar pandemics. The issues and potential strategies comprise the following: (1) helping policymakers to generate business continuity plans, (2) maintaining the use of evidence-based interventions for people with SUDs, (3) being prepared for adequate medication supplies, (4) integrating harm reduction programs with other treatment modalities, and (5) having specific considerations for vulnerable groups such as immigrants and refugees.

AB - Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted people with substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide, and healthcare systems have reorganized their services in response to the pandemic. Methods: One week after the announcement of the COVID-19 as a pandemic, in a global survey, 177 addiction medicine professionals described COVID-19-related health responses in their own 77 countries in terms of SUD treatment and harm reduction services. The health responses were categorized around (1) managerial measures and systems, (2) logistics, (3) service providers, and (4) vulnerable groups. Results: Respondents from over 88% of countries reported that core medical and psychiatric care for SUDs had continued; however, only 56% of countries reported having had any business continuity plan, and 37.5% of countries reported shortages of methadone or buprenorphine supplies. Participants of 41% of countries reported partial discontinuation of harm-reduction services such as needle and syringe programs and condom distribution. Fifty-seven percent of overdose prevention interventions and 81% of outreach services were also negatively impacted. Conclusions: Participants reported that SUD treatment and harm-reduction services had been significantly impacted globally early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, we highlight several issues and complications resulting from the pandemic concerning people with SUDs that should be tackled more efficiently during the future waves or similar pandemics. The issues and potential strategies comprise the following: (1) helping policymakers to generate business continuity plans, (2) maintaining the use of evidence-based interventions for people with SUDs, (3) being prepared for adequate medication supplies, (4) integrating harm reduction programs with other treatment modalities, and (5) having specific considerations for vulnerable groups such as immigrants and refugees.

KW - addiction services

KW - COVID-19 pandemic

KW - drug policy

KW - harm reduction

KW - opioid agonist treatment

KW - public health

KW - substance use disorder

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106509698&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393

DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393

M3 - Article

C2 - 34025471

AN - SCOPUS:85106509698

SN - 1664-0640

VL - 12

JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry

JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry

M1 - 639393

ER -

Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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