The COVID-19 pandemic and the health of people who use illicit opioids in New York City, the first 12 months.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Concurrent opioid-related overdose and COVID-19 crises in the U.S. have imposed unprecedented challenges on people who use illicit opioids.

Methods

Using the experiences of 324 people who use illicit opioids between April 2020 and March 2021, we examined four domains of health and well-being potentially impacted by COVID-19: drug risks and responses, healthcare and related services, material hardship, and mental health. Data were drawn from participants' completed monthly survey assessments which were grouped into four periods of interest for the unfolding pandemic: April-June 2020, July-October 2020, November-January 2021, and February-March 2021.

Results

A majority of measures in our four domains showed early COVID-19 related impacts, which quickly dimini

SUBMITTER: Bennett AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8632599 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature