Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs
Abstract Background Fatal drug overdoses in the USA hit historical records during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, people who used drugs had greater odds of contracting COVID-19, increased drug use due to COVID-related stress, and heightened levels of anxiety and depression. This qual...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00653-1 |
| _version_ | 1818470821721538560 |
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| author | Fiona N. Conway Jake Samora Katlyn Brinkley Haelim Jeong Nina Clinton Kasey R. Claborn |
| author_facet | Fiona N. Conway Jake Samora Katlyn Brinkley Haelim Jeong Nina Clinton Kasey R. Claborn |
| author_sort | Fiona N. Conway |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Fatal drug overdoses in the USA hit historical records during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, people who used drugs had greater odds of contracting COVID-19, increased drug use due to COVID-related stress, and heightened levels of anxiety and depression. This qualitative study examined the specific ways the pandemic negatively impacted people who use drugs. Methods Qualitative interviews with 24 people who use drugs and 20 substance use harm reduction workers were conducted. Data from the qualitative interviews were analyzed using applied thematic analysis to identify emergent themes based on the a priori research goals. Results Thematic analysis identified several common experiences during the pandemic among people who use drugs. These included mental distress due to financial strain and social isolation; increased drug use; increased risky drug-seeking and use behaviors due to changes in the drug markets; and reduced access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services. Conclusions Our study highlighted critical systemic failures that contributed to the rise in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing these challenges through policy reform and improved funding models will ensure the sustainability of harm reduction services and increase access to substance use treatment among highly vulnerable people who use drugs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:42:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-89f9f390312a4cd89c6627ae8463ef1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:42:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-89f9f390312a4cd89c6627ae8463ef1c2022-12-22T02:28:41ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172022-07-011911810.1186/s12954-022-00653-1Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugsFiona N. Conway0Jake Samora1Katlyn Brinkley2Haelim Jeong3Nina Clinton4Kasey R. Claborn5The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social WorkThe University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social WorkThe University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social WorkSchool of Social Work, The University of AlabamaDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech UniversityThe University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social WorkAbstract Background Fatal drug overdoses in the USA hit historical records during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, people who used drugs had greater odds of contracting COVID-19, increased drug use due to COVID-related stress, and heightened levels of anxiety and depression. This qualitative study examined the specific ways the pandemic negatively impacted people who use drugs. Methods Qualitative interviews with 24 people who use drugs and 20 substance use harm reduction workers were conducted. Data from the qualitative interviews were analyzed using applied thematic analysis to identify emergent themes based on the a priori research goals. Results Thematic analysis identified several common experiences during the pandemic among people who use drugs. These included mental distress due to financial strain and social isolation; increased drug use; increased risky drug-seeking and use behaviors due to changes in the drug markets; and reduced access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services. Conclusions Our study highlighted critical systemic failures that contributed to the rise in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing these challenges through policy reform and improved funding models will ensure the sustainability of harm reduction services and increase access to substance use treatment among highly vulnerable people who use drugs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00653-1COVID-19PandemicDrug useHarm reductionPeople who use drugsSubstance use disorder |
| spellingShingle | Fiona N. Conway Jake Samora Katlyn Brinkley Haelim Jeong Nina Clinton Kasey R. Claborn Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs Harm Reduction Journal COVID-19 Pandemic Drug use Harm reduction People who use drugs Substance use disorder |
| title | Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs |
| title_full | Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs |
| title_fullStr | Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs |
| title_short | Impact of COVID-19 among people who use drugs: A qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 among people who use drugs a qualitative study with harm reduction workers and people who use drugs |
| topic | COVID-19 Pandemic Drug use Harm reduction People who use drugs Substance use disorder |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00653-1 |
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