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Navigating intersecting public health crises: a qualitative study of people with opioid use disorders' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watson, Dennis P; Staton, Monte D; Grella, Christine E; Scott, Christy K; Dennis, Michael L.
  • Watson DP; Chestnut Health Systems, 221 W. Walton St, Chicago, IL, 60610, USA. dpwatson@chestnut.org.
  • Staton MD; Department of Medicine, Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, 818 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA.
  • Grella CE; Chestnut Health Systems, 221 W. Walton St, Chicago, IL, 60610, USA.
  • Scott CK; Chestnut Health Systems, 221 W. Walton St, Chicago, IL, 60610, USA.
  • Dennis ML; Chestnut Health Systems, 448 Wylie Dr, Normal, IL, 61761, USA.
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy ; 17(1): 22, 2022 03 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1745438
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The decades-long opioid epidemic and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic are two interacting events with significant public health impacts for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Most published studies regarding the intersection of these two public health crises have focused on community, state, or national trends using pre-existing data. There is a need for complementary qualitative research aimed at identifying how people with opioid use disorder (OUD) are understanding, experiencing, and navigating this unprecedented time. The current study examines understandings and experiences of people with OUD while they have navigated these crises.

METHODS:

The study was guided by a pragmatic lens. We conducted brief semi-structured qualitative interviews with 25 individuals in Chicago, the majority of which had received methadone treatment during the pandemic. Thematic inductive analysis was guided by primary interview questions.

RESULTS:

The sample represents a high-risk group, being composed mostly of older non-Hispanic African American males and having considerable socioeconomic barriers. Themes demonstrate how individuals are keeping safe despite limited knowledge of COVID-19, how the pandemic has increased treatment motivation for some, how adaptations impacted treatment and recovery supports, how the availability social support had been reduced, and difficulties individuals had keeping or obtaining financial support.

CONCLUSIONS:

The findings can be useful for informing future public health response to ensure appropriate treatment access and supports are available. In particular are the need for treatment providers to ensure people with OUD receive appropriate and understandable health crisis-related information and ensuring funds are appropriately allocated to address mental health impacts of social isolation. Finally, there is a need for appropriate financial and infrastructure supports to ensure health and treatment access disparities are not exacerbated for those in greatest need.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Opioid-Related Disorders Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy Journal subject: Substance-Related Disorders Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13011-022-00449-3

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Opioid-Related Disorders Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy Journal subject: Substance-Related Disorders Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13011-022-00449-3