Substance-Use During COVID-19
This presentation provides a summary of national, provincial and regional data trends as they relate to Opioid hospitalizations and overdoses since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Why has the Opioid Crisis worsened since the start of the pandemic? What have persons who use drugs experienced as a result of service disruptions? Adhering to public health guidelines around COVID-19 transmission can be difficult, especially when an important safety mechanism against overdose is ensuring you use with others. Along with an exploration of these issues, the presenter provides practical harm reduction-based strategies for persons who use drugs, whether using alone, using with others, or meeting with their drug supplier.