In 2018, 46,802 individuals died from opioid substance use in the United States. Many individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have increased health risks, which make them vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. These direct risks include:
- More likely to contract COVID-19
- Increased risk for hypoxemia
- Triage bias when hospitalized
- Inability to quarantine effectively

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Opioid Substance Use Issues Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Slat, S., Thomas, J., & Lagisetty, P. (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Opioid Use-A Pandemic Within an Epidemic. JAMA.
https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2766790

Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Opioid Use-A Pandemic Within an Epidemic

Direct Risks of Opioid Substance Use Issues Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Many individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have increased health risks, which make them vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indirect risks include:
- Reallocation of healthcare resources to prioritize COVID-19 patients
- Decreased attempts for opioid intervention
- Greater association between mental health comorbidities and OUD

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