Browse COVID-19 resources from partners and CCSA experts – trusted sources for your information and research needs.

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Evidence. Engagement. Impact.
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

The information on COVID-19 and substance use in this section is organized under specific topics. Topics covered include harm reduction, opioids, alcohol, homeless and marginalized populations, and treatment services and recovery.

CCSA cannot vouch for the accuracy or currency of the information in these resources. Inclusion of a resource on this page does not imply endorsement or authorization by CCSA.

Alcohol

Alcohol

Resource Organization
Changes in alcohol use as a function of psychological distress and social support following COVID-19 related University closings Addictive Behaviors
Drinking to cope with the pandemic: The unique associations of COVID-19-related perceived threat and psychological distress to drinking behaviors in American men and women Addictive Behaviors
Mental Wellness Moment — Making healthy choices about substance use (video) Alberta Health Services
Mental Wellness Moment — Alcohol and COVID-19 (video) Alberta Health Services
Alcohol and COVID-19 Alcohol and Alcoholism
Are Patients With Alcohol Use Disorders at Increased Risk for Covid-19 Infection? Alcohol and Alcoholism
Complicated Alcohol Withdrawal—An Unintended Consequence of COVID-19 Lockdown Alcohol and Alcoholism
Coronavirus: top tips on alcohol and mental health  Alcohol Change UK
Tips for reducing your drinking in the home Alcohol Think Again
Options for meeting online Alcoholics Anonymous
Supporting Access to Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment American Association of Addiction Medicine
Risk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies B.C. Centre on Substance Use
Statement: Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) during the COVID-19 pandemic Canada FASD Research Network
Alcohol and the Immune System: 4 Things You Should Know (infographic) Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Open versus Closed: The Risks Associated with Retail Liquor Stores during COVID-19 Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
COVID-19 and Increased Alcohol Consumption: NANOS Poll Summary Report Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
COVID-19, Alcohol and Cannabis Use (infographic) Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
COVID 19, Alcohol and Cannabis Use (report) Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Alcohol, Pregnancy, and your Mental Health during COVID-19 Canadian FASD Research Network
Safer Drinking Tips During COVID-19 Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
Alcohol Consumption and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Synthesizing Knowledge for Policy Action Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Is another public health crisis brewing beneath the COVID-19 pandemic? Canadian Journal of Public Health
Telemedicine support for addiction services Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Supporting people who use substances in shelter settings during the COVID‑19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Alcohol use in times of the COVID 19: Implications for monitoring and policy Drug and Alcohol Review
COVID‐19 makes a stronger research focus on home drinking more important than ever Drug and Alcohol Review
COVID ‐19 and alcohol in Australia: Industry changes and public health impacts Drug and Alcohol Review
Alcohol and Self-Isolation: What Are Quebecers Doing? Éduc'alcool
Isolation and alcohol during a pandemic Éduc'alcool
Alcohol Use: Risk Mitigation Strategies During a Pandemic First Nations Health Authority
Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support Government of Canada
Substance Use During the Pandemic Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Alcohol Policy and Coronavirus: An Open Research Agenda Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: a potential public health crisis? The Lancet
Alcohol consumption in the COVID-19 era Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica
Rapid Review: What is the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol use and alcohol-related harms? National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools
Clinical guide for the management of people with alcohol dependence during the coronavirus pandemic National Health Service, England
Combatting alcohol misuse among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Helpful information on substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Government of New Brunswick
COVID-19: guidance for commissioners and providers of services for people who use drugs or alcohol Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care
People with a dependency a hidden cost of lockdown Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
There’s Life Beyond Addiction SMART Recovery
Considerations for Crisis Centers and Clinicians in Managing the Treatment of Alcohol or Benzodiazepine Withdrawal during the COVID-19 Epidemic: March 19, 2020 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Managing Safe Alcohol Use During COVID-19 Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
More tips for managing Safe Alcohol Use during COVID-19 Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
Alcohol and Opioid use in the Time of COVID-19 (webinar summary and link) University of British Columbia
Support and resources for women Women For Sobriety
Alcohol and COVID-19: what you need to know World Health Organization, Europe
COVID-19 - Pandémie et consommation d’alcool (in French only) Institut national de santé publique du Québec

 

Harm Reduction

Harm Reduction

Resource Organization
Rapid Implementation of Service Delivery Changes to Mitigate COVID-19 and Maintain Access to Methadone Among Persons with and at High-Risk for HIV in an Opioid Treatment Program AIDS and Behavior
COVID-19 Webinars Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
Mental Wellness Moment — Making healthy choices about substance use (video) Alberta Health Services
Mental Wellness Moment — Managing cravings during COVID-19 (video) Alberta Health Services
Mental Wellness Moment — Alcohol and COVID-19 (video) Alberta Health Services
Mental Wellness Moment — Cannabis safety during COVID-19 (video) Alberta Health Services
COVID-19 — Supporting Access to Buprenorphine American Society of Addiction Medicine
COVID-19: Harm Reduction and Overdose Response  B.C. Centre for Disease Control
People who use substances  B.C. Centre for Disease Control
Substance Use and COVID-19 B.C. Centre on Substance Use
Risk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies B.C. Centre on Substance Use
COVID-19: Responding to Opioid Overdoses in Overdose Prevention Services (OPS) and Supervised Consumption Sites (SCS) BC Ministry of Health
Supporting Harm Reduction in COVID 19 Shelter and Self Isolation (webinar) Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Virtual Care for Mental Health and Substance Use During COVID-19 [infographic] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Canadian Psychological Association, Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, Mental Health Commission of Canada, The Royal
Coping with Stress, Anxiety, and Substance Use During Covid-19: How Animals Can Help [infographic] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Methamphetamine, the Respiratory System and COVID-19 [report] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Methamphetamine, Cocaine and COVID-19 Health Risks [infographic] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
COVID-19 and Cannabis Smoking and Vaping: Four Things You Should Know [report] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
COVID-19 and Cannabis Smoking: 4 Things You Should Know [infographic] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
COVID-19 and Cannabis: How to Reduce Your Risk [infographic] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Rapid Review of the Impacts of “Big Events” On People Who Use Drugs and Delivery of Harm Reduction and Drug Treatment Services: Implications for Strengthening Systems in Response to COVID-19 Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Securing Safe Supply During COVID-19 and Beyond: Scoping Review and Knowledge Mobilization Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Don't forget our dual public health crises Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine
Supporting people who use substances in acute care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Medications and other clinical approaches to support physical distancing for people who use substances during the COVID-19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Strategies to Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Supportive Recovery Programs and Residential Addiction Treatment Services Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Harm reduction worker safety during the COVID-19 global pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Telemedicine support for addiction services Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Supporting people who use substances in shelter settings during the COVID‑19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Mental Health and the COVID Pandemic  Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Coronavirus – General Hygiene Harm Reduction Tips Crew
COVID-19 Safer Drug Use Harm Reduction Tips Eastern Health / Opioid Dependance Treatment Centre of Excellence
The impact of heroin illicit market in the framework of COVID 19 pandemic (Letter to the Editor) European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
How the Pandemic Hit People Who Use Drugs, in Their Own Words Filter
Substance Use – Harm Reduction and COVID-19 First Nations Health Authority
COVID-19 Safer Drug Use Harm Reduction Tips Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Syringe Services and Harm Reduction Provider Operations During the COVID-19 Outbreak Harm Reduction Coalition
COVID-19 Guidance for People Who Use Drugs and Harm Reduction Programs  Harm Reduction Coalition
COVID-19, Prisons and Drug Policy Harm Reduction International
COVID-19 Crisis: Harm Reduction Resources for People who Use Drugs  INPUD (International Network of People who Use Drugs)
COVID-19 Survey Report 1: Health & Rights of People who Use Drugs in a COVID-19 Environment INPUD (International Network of People who Use Drugs)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources and information International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)
An urgent impetus for action: safe inhalation interventions to reduce COVID-19 transmission and fatality risk among people who smoke crack cocaine in the United Kingdom International Journal of Drug Policy
Addressing co-occurring public health emergencies: The importance of naloxone distribution in the era of COVID-19 International Journal of Drug Policy
Addiction psychiatry and COVID-19: impact on patients and service provision Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
COVID-19 Harm Reduction COVID-19: Stay Home, Stay Safe New Zealand Drug Foundation
Helpful information on substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Government of New Brunswick
Avoiding a new epidemic during a pandemic: The importance of assessing the risk of substance use disorders in the COVID-19 era Psychiatry Research
COVID-19: guidance for commissioners and providers of services for people who use drugs or alcohol Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care
COVID19: Opioid Risk Mitigation Research-to-Policy Collaboration
COVID-19, Stimulant Use, and Harm Reduction Resolve to Save Lives and Vital Strategies
Harm reduction during COVID-19 Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
'A Pandemic Upon an Epidemic.' Syringe Services Struggle to Provide Care to Those Battling Drug Addiction Amid COVID-19 Time
COVID-19 Harm Reduction Tips  Toronto Public Health
Coronavirus and Drug Harm Reduction Transform
COVID-19 HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support for People Who Use Drugs and People in Prison   United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Pandemic Response Planning Checklist for Homeless & Housing Services Providers  Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver CAT prescriber guidelines webinar Vancouver Coastal Health
Prescriber Guidelines for Risk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies Vancouver Coastal Health
Safer Use Strategies to Reduce Risk of COVID-19 Transmission   Vancouver Costal Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for substance misuse and homelessness services (version 1) Welsh Government
Harm Reduction Guidance  Yale Program in Addiction Medicine
Guidance for People Who Use Substances on COVID-19   Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Global Health Justice Partnership, and Crackdown
Gambling and Gaming During COVID-19: Prevalence, Implications and Strategies to Stay Safe YMCA of Greater Toronto
A Message for Young People Who Use Drugs Youth Rise
Pour un usage de substances à moindre risque dans le cadre de la pandémie de COVID-19 (in French only) Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec
COVID-19: Qu’est-ce que la réduction des méfaits? (in French only) CQDT

 

Homeless/Marginalized Populations

Homeless/Marginalized Populations

Resource Organization
Supporting Harm Reduction in COVID 19 Shelter and Self Isolation (webinar) Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
Telemedicine support for addiction services Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Supporting people who use substances in shelter settings during the COVID‑19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Guidance for providers of services for people experiencing homelessness (in the context of COVID-19)  Government of Canada
Youth Homelessness: Mental Health and Substance Use Patterns During COVID-19 Homeless Hub
Overdose Safety and Support During the Coronavirus Outbreak Homeless Services Association of B.C.
COVID-19 printable materials, sector resources and webinar recordings Homelessness Services Association of BC
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources and information International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)
The perfect storm: COVID-19, mass incarceration and the opioid epidemic International Journal of Drug Policy
Low Barrier Tele-Buprenorphine in the Time of COVID-19: A Case Report Journal of Addiction Medicine
COVID‐19 During the Opioid Epidemic – Exacerbation of Stigma and Vulnerabilities Journal of Rural Health
Pandemic Response Planning Checklist for Homeless & Housing Services Providers  Vancouver Coastal Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for substance misuse and homelessness services (version 1) Welsh Government
WHO Interim Guidance on Preparedness, prevention and control of COVID-19 in prisons and other places of detention (2020)  World Health Organization

 

Opioids

Opioids

Resource Organization
Rapid Implementation of Service Delivery Changes to Mitigate COVID-19 and Maintain Access to Methadone Among Persons with and at High-Risk for HIV in an Opioid Treatment Program AIDS and Behavior
COVID-19 - Supporting Access to Buprenorphine American Society of Addiction Medicine
When Epidemics Collide: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Opioid Crisis Annals of Internal Medicine
Collision of the COVID-19 and Addiction Epidemics Annals of Internal Medicine
People who use substances  B.C. Centre for Disease Control
COVID-19: Information for Opioid Agonist Treatment Prescribers and Pharmacists  B.C. Centre on Substance Use
Substance Use and COVID-19 B.C. Centre on Substance Use
Risk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies B.C. Centre on Substance Use
A Rapid Review of Opioid Substitution Therapy During Major Disruptions to Medical Care Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Don't forget our dual public health crises Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine
Telemedicine support for addiction services Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Supporting people who use substances in shelter settings during the COVID‑19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
COVID-19 - Opioid Agonist Treatment Guidance  Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine
Opioid Use Disorder in the age of Covid-19  Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine
COVID -19: Opioid Agonist Treatment Guidance Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Coronavirus – General Hygiene Harm Reduction Tips Crew
Signal of increased opioid overdose during COVID-19 from emergency medical services data Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Caring for Pregnant and Parenting Women with OUD During the COVID-19 Pandemic (slides from webinar) Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts
Substance Use During the Pandemic Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
COVID‐19 During the Opioid Epidemic – Exacerbation of Stigma and Vulnerabilities Journal of Rural Health
A Primary Care Response to COVID‐19 for Patients with an Opioid Use Disorder Journal of Rural Health
Rapid Review: What is the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid and substance use and related harms? National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools
Helpful information on substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Government of New Brunswick
COVID-19 and Opioid Treatment Programs Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services
COVID19 pandemic and people with opioid use disorder: innovation to reduce risk Psychiatry Research
COVID-19: guidance for commissioners and providers of services for people who use drugs or alcohol Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care
COVID19: Opioid Risk Mitigation Research-to-Policy Collaboration
Managing Withdrawal during COVID-19 Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
Alcohol and Opioid use in the Time of COVID-19 (webinar summary and link) University of British Columbia
Research Guidelines in Response to Covid-19 (March 30, 2020)  University of the Fraser Valley
VCH Overdose Response in Overdose Prevention Sites and Supervised Consumption Sites for COVID-19 Vancouver Coastal Health
Vancouver CAT prescriber guidelines webinar Vancouver Coastal Health
Harm Reduction Guidance  Yale Program in Addiction Medicine
A Message for Young People Who Use Drugs Youth Rise
Le traitement du trouble lié à l’utilisation d'opioïdes (TUO) : version temporaire comprenant les mesures d'exception autorisées par Santé Canada en lien avec al pandémie de la COVID-19 (in French only) Collège des médecins du Québec

 

Treatment Services and Recovery

Treatment Services and Recovery

Resource Organization
Adapting Substance Use Treatment for HIV Affected Communities During COVID-19: Comparisons Between a Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Clinic and a Local Community Based Organization AIDS and Behavior
Rapid Implementation of Service Delivery Changes to Mitigate COVID-19 and Maintain Access to Methadone Among Persons with and at High-Risk for HIV in an Opioid Treatment Program AIDS and Behavior
COVID-19 — Supporting Access to Buprenorphine American Society of Addiction Medicine
Caring for patients with pain during the COVID-19 pandemic: consensus recommendations from an international expert panel Anaesthesia
COVID-19 pandemic and addiction: Current problems and future concerns Asian Journal of Psychiatry
People who use substances  B.C. Centre for Disease Control
Risk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies B.C. Centre on Substance Use
Starting Buprenorphine Outside of Hospitals/Clinics California Bridge
Virtual Care for Mental Health and Substance Use During COVID-19 [infographic] Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Canadian Psychological Association, Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, Mental Health Commission of Canada, The Royal
Digital Health Solutions to Support Women with Addiction During COVID-19: Applying a Gender- and Trauma-Informed Lens Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Rapid Evidence and Gap Map of Virtual Care Solutions for Youth and Families to Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pain, Mental Health and Substance Use Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Supporting people who use substances in acute care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Medications and other clinical approaches to support physical distancing for people who use substances during the COVID-19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Strategies to Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Supportive Recovery Programs and Residential Addiction Treatment Services Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Harm reduction worker safety during the COVID-19 global pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Telemedicine support for addiction services Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
Supporting people who use substances in shelter settings during the COVID‑19 pandemic Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse
COVID-19 - Opioid Agonist Treatment Guidance  Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine
COVID -19: Opioid Agonist Treatment Guidance Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
CAMH: Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Alcohol use in times of the COVID 19: Implications for monitoring and policy Drug and Alcohol Review
Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19: Multi-Faceted Problems Which Require Multi-Pronged Solutions Frontiers in Psychiatry
A national model of remote care for assessing and providing opioid agonist treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic: a report Harm Reduction Journal
Challenges in maintaining treatment services for people who use drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic Harm Reduction Journal
Addressing co-occurring public health emergencies: The importance of naloxone distribution in the era of COVID-19 International Journal of Drug Policy
Addiction psychiatry and COVID-19: impact on patients and service provision Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
Telehealth for Substance-Using Populations in the Age of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Recommendations to Enhance Adoption JAMA Psychiatry
Low Barrier Tele-Buprenorphine in the Time of COVID-19: A Case Report Journal of Addiction Medicine
Prevalence of Covid-19 Infection and Subsequent Cohorting in a Residential Substance Use Treatment Program in Boston, MA Journal of Addiction Medicine
COVID-19 vulnerability among people who use drugs: recommendations for global public health programmes and policies Journal of the International AIDS Society
COVID-19 Harm Reduction COVID-19: Stay Home, Stay Safe New Zealand Drug Foundation
Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise  RACE Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise
Leveraging video telehealth for the transitional pain service in response to COVID-19 Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
Updated guidance for contingency planning for services during COVID-19 published  Scottish Drugs Forum
There’s Life Beyond Addiction SMART Recovery
COVID-19 guide for drug and alcohol residential rehab and detox services Social Care Institute for Excellence
Suggestions about treatment, care and rehabilitation of people with drug use disorder in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Prescriber Guidelines for Risk Mitigation in the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies Vancouver Coastal Health
Support and resources for women Women For Sobriety

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