COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD)
Introduction: The COVID-19 induced lockdown in India had put large number of people who use drugs (PWUD) in panicky over their craving for substance use with supply chain disruptions. Aim of this paper was to understand the COVID-19 induced problems faced by PWUD and those with substance use disor-...
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Edizioni FS
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhss_52_265-272.pdf |
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| author | Gautam Kr GHOSH |
| author_facet | Gautam Kr GHOSH |
| author_sort | Gautam Kr GHOSH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The COVID-19 induced lockdown in India had put large number of people who use drugs (PWUD) in panicky over their craving for substance use with supply chain disruptions. Aim of this paper was to understand the COVID-19 induced problems faced by PWUD and those with substance use disor- ders (SUD) in India.
Methods: A rapid qualitative research was conducted remotely from May to early June 2020, during lock- down period in India, with consent-based in-depth interviews with key stakeholders from national agencies and drug deaddiction center in East and Northern-East India.
Results: The current public health crisis raises serious additional concerns for the wellbeing of PWUD as they run the same risks of infection by COVID-19 due to underlying chronic medical conditions. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, there has been persistent lacking of treatment services for patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Those who needed treatment during lockdowns faced problems as govern- ment supported drug deaddiction centers, which stopped new admission but lately started new admission but in reduced numbers. The outpatient services of drug treatment centers (DTC) at some government ho- spitals could not operate. The Opioid Substitution Therapy centers, though started dispensing of methadone on biweekly and buprenorphine on seven-day refill basis, yet there remained travel related problems and reported harassment during lockdown stage.
Conclusion: Specific measures to mitigating health service needs of PWUD in India should be put in place, taking lessons from the current pandemic situation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e0325e01a9e475893aaab1232e46399 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2499-5886 2499-2240 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Edizioni FS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e0325e01a9e475893aaab1232e463992025-01-18T18:20:30ZengEdizioni FSJournal of Health and Social Sciences2499-58862499-22402020-07-015226527210.19204/2020/cvdn11COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD)Gautam Kr GHOSH0Ph.D., PG in Management of Reproductive Child Health, Research Scientist, Virology, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research & National Consultant, National AIDS Control Organization under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, IndiaIntroduction: The COVID-19 induced lockdown in India had put large number of people who use drugs (PWUD) in panicky over their craving for substance use with supply chain disruptions. Aim of this paper was to understand the COVID-19 induced problems faced by PWUD and those with substance use disor- ders (SUD) in India. Methods: A rapid qualitative research was conducted remotely from May to early June 2020, during lock- down period in India, with consent-based in-depth interviews with key stakeholders from national agencies and drug deaddiction center in East and Northern-East India. Results: The current public health crisis raises serious additional concerns for the wellbeing of PWUD as they run the same risks of infection by COVID-19 due to underlying chronic medical conditions. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, there has been persistent lacking of treatment services for patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Those who needed treatment during lockdowns faced problems as govern- ment supported drug deaddiction centers, which stopped new admission but lately started new admission but in reduced numbers. The outpatient services of drug treatment centers (DTC) at some government ho- spitals could not operate. The Opioid Substitution Therapy centers, though started dispensing of methadone on biweekly and buprenorphine on seven-day refill basis, yet there remained travel related problems and reported harassment during lockdown stage. Conclusion: Specific measures to mitigating health service needs of PWUD in India should be put in place, taking lessons from the current pandemic situation.https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhss_52_265-272.pdfdeaddictiondrug treatment centersdrugsindialockdown; people who use drugs (pwud); people with substances use disorders (sud);substance use disorders; treatment; opioid substitution therapy |
| spellingShingle | Gautam Kr GHOSH COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD) Journal of Health and Social Sciences deaddiction drug treatment centers drugs india lockdown; people who use drugs (pwud); people with substances use disorders (sud); substance use disorders; treatment; opioid substitution therapy |
| title | COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD) |
| title_full | COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD) |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD) |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD) |
| title_short | COVID-19 in India: Health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs (PWUD) and patients with substance use disorders (SUD) |
| title_sort | covid 19 in india health implications and treatment needs of people who use drugs pwud and patients with substance use disorders sud |
| topic | deaddiction drug treatment centers drugs india lockdown; people who use drugs (pwud); people with substances use disorders (sud); substance use disorders; treatment; opioid substitution therapy |
| url | https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhss_52_265-272.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gautamkrghosh covid19inindiahealthimplicationsandtreatmentneedsofpeoplewhousedrugspwudandpatientswithsubstanceusedisorderssud |