Conway Fiona N, Samora Jake, Brinkley Katlyn, Jeong Haelim, Clinton Nina, Claborn Kasey R
The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work.
The University of Alabama School of Social Work.
Res Sq. 2022 Feb 4:rs.3.rs-1309886. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1309886/v1.
Fatal drug overdoses in the United States 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 exploratory qualitative study examined the specific ways the pandemic negatively impacted people who use drugs. 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. 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. 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.
在美国，新冠疫情期间药物过量致死人数创下历史纪录。在整个疫情期间，吸毒者感染新冠病毒的几率更高，因新冠相关压力导致吸毒增加，焦虑和抑郁水平也有所上升。这项探索性定性研究考察了疫情对吸毒者产生负面影响的具体方式。研究对24名吸毒者和20名减少物质使用危害工作者进行了定性访谈。运用应用主题分析法对定性访谈数据进行分析，以根据先验研究目标确定新出现的主题。主题分析确定了疫情期间吸毒者的一些共同经历。这些经历包括因经济压力和社会隔离导致的精神痛苦；吸毒增加；由于毒品市场变化导致寻求毒品和使用毒品的危险行为增加；以及获得减少危害、治疗和康复支持服务的机会减少。我们的研究突出了导致新冠疫情期间过量用药死亡人数上升的关键系统性失灵问题。通过政策改革和改进资金模式应对这些挑战，将确保减少危害服务的可持续性，并增加高危吸毒人群获得物质使用治疗的机会。
