The Impact of COVID-19 on Substance Use and Related Consequences among Patients in Office-Based Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Abstract

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased substance-related morbidity and mortality and transformed care for opioid use disorder (OUD). We assessed the perceived impacts of the pandemic on substance use and related consequences among patients in office-based addiction treatment (OBAT). Methods We recruited patients with OUD on buprenorphine from July 2021 to July 2022, with data collection at baseline and 6 months. Exposures of interest were the following 6 domains potentially impacted by COVID-19: personal or family infection, difficulty accessing healthcare/medication, economic stressors, worsening physical or mental health, social isolation, and conflicts/disruptions in the home. Outcomes were past 30-day alcohol and other substance use, increased use, and substance-related consequences at baseline and 6 months. Generalized estimating equations Poisson regression models quantified associations between increasing impact domain scores and relative risks of each outcome. Results All participants (N = 150) reported at least one domain negatively impacted by COVID-19 at both time points. Higher “worsening physical or mental health” domain scores were associated with increased relative risk of recent alcohol or drug use (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.07). Relative risks of experiencing substance-related consequences increased with higher scores in the domains of economic stressors (aRR 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.13), difficulty accessing healthcare/medication (aRR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04–1.19), and worsening physical or mental health (aRR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.12). Conclusions Among patients with OUD, stressors from COVID-19 were common. Three life domains impacted by COVID-19 appeared to be associated with consequential substance use, highlighting opportunities to address barriers to healthcare access and economic stressors.