Harm reduction and abstinence-based models for treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a global perspective

V.L. Narasimha; J. Butner; E. Hanafi; M. Farokhnia; R. Bhad; F. Chalabianloo; C. Kouimtsidis; A. Baldacchino; S. Arunogiri

doi:10.1192/bji.2022.1

Harm reduction and abstinence-based models for treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a global perspective

V.L. Narasimha, J. Butner, E. Hanafi, M. Farokhnia, R. Bhad, F. Chalabianloo, C. Kouimtsidis, A. Baldacchino, S. Arunogiri^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

9 Citations (Scopus)

12 Downloads (Pure)

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	66-69
Number of pages	4
Journal	BJPsych International
Volume	19
Issue number	3
Early online date	24 Feb 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bji.2022.1
Publication status	Published - 30 Aug 2022

Keywords

Abstinence
Addiction
COVID-19
Harm reduction
Substance use
Treatment

UN SDGs

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

Access to Document

10.1192/bji.2022.1Licence: CC BY

Narasimha_2022_BJPsych-Int_Harm-reduction-and-abstinence-based-models-treatment-of-substance-use-disorders_CC
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/
Final published version, 297 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{cb740d1600fc41bd8a2486a2a62b5bbd,

title = "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.",

keywords = "Abstinence, Addiction, COVID-19, Harm reduction, Substance use, Treatment",

author = "V.L. Narasimha and J. Butner and E. Hanafi and M. Farokhnia and R. Bhad and F. Chalabianloo and C. Kouimtsidis and A. Baldacchino and S. Arunogiri",

note = "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.",

year = "2022",

month = aug,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1192/bji.2022.1",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "66--69",

journal = "BJPsych International",

issn = "2056-4740",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Harm reduction and abstinence-based models for treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic

T2 - a global perspective

AU - Narasimha, V.L.

AU - Butner, J.

AU - Hanafi, E.

AU - Farokhnia, M.

AU - Bhad, R.

AU - Chalabianloo, F.

AU - Kouimtsidis, C.

AU - Baldacchino, A.

AU - Arunogiri, S.

N1 - 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.

PY - 2022/8/30

Y1 - 2022/8/30

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Abstinence

KW - Addiction

KW - COVID-19

KW - Harm reduction

KW - Substance use

KW - Treatment

U2 - 10.1192/bji.2022.1

DO - 10.1192/bji.2022.1

M3 - Article

SN - 2056-4740

VL - 19

SP - 66

EP - 69

JO - BJPsych International

JF - BJPsych International

IS - 3

ER -

Harm reduction and abstinence-based models for treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a global perspective

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this