Harm reduction and abstinence-based models for treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic : a global perspective
Abstract
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.
Citation
Narasimha , V L , Butner , J , Hanafi , E , Farokhnia , M , Bhad , R , Chalabianloo , F , Kouimtsidis , C , Baldacchino , A & Arunogiri , S 2022 , ' Harm reduction and abstinence-based models for treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic : a global perspective ' , BJPsych International , vol. 19 , no. 3 , pp. 66-69 . https://doi.org/10.1192/bji.2022.1
Publication
BJPsych International
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2056-4740Type
Journal article
Description
Funding: M.F. is an employee of the US Federal Government and is supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) intramural funding (ZIA-DA000635 and ZIA-AA000218), outside of this research.Collections
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