SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Addictive Disorders: Focus on Opioid Dependence and Opioid Maintenance Treatment - The Bavarian Experience

ABSTRACT

Background: The covid-19 pandemic challenges patients with severe mental illnesses in many aspects. Curfews, quarantine and isolation are stressors that impair mental wellbeing and can lead to increases in substance use or relapse in patients with substance use disorders. Among the latter, patients with opioid use disorder are particularly vulnerable due to high prevalence of psychiatric or somatic comorbidities. On the other hand, both availability and access to health care is limited during the pandemic, which severely affects patients under opioid maintenance therapy (OMT). Aim: This report focusses on the Bavarian experience with opioid dependent patients and OMT. Conclusions: Measures to counteract the health risks for this group of patients require the maintenance of OMT facilities under safe conditions in terms of service, hygiene and risk of infection.