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
Coronavirus: top tips on alcohol and mental health  Alcohol Change UK
Options for meeting online Alcoholics Anonymous
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
Safer Drinking Tips During COVID-19 Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
Coronavirus – General Hygiene Harm Reduction Tips Crew
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 use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: a potential public health crisis? The Lancet
Clinical guide for the management of people with alcohol dependence during the coronavirus pandemic National Health Service, England
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
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 Opiod 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

 

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: 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
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
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
COVID-19 and people who use drugs European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Substance Use – Harm Reduction and COVID-19 First Nations Health Authority
COVID-19 Safer Drug Use Harm Reduction Tips Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
COVID-19 Guidance for People Who Use Drugs and Harm Reduction Programs  Harm Reduction Coalition
Frequently Asked Questions: Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Patients, Practitioners and Pharmacists Prescribing and Providing Controlled Substances in Canada during the Coronavirus Pandemic Health Canada
COVID-19 Crisis: Harm Reduction Resources for People who Use Drugs  INPUD (International Network of People who Use Drugs)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources and information International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)
COVID-19 Guidance: Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) Sites  Ontario Ministry of Health
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
COVID19: Opioid Risk Mitigation Research-to-Policy Collaboration
COVID-19, Stimulant Use, and Harm Reduction Resolve to Save Lives and Vital Strategies
Harm Reduction Tips During Corona Virus Somerset West Community Health Centre
Harm reduction during COVID-19 Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
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
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

 

Homeless/Marginalized Populations

Homeless/Marginalized Populations

Resource Organization
Coronavirus – General Hygiene Harm Reduction Tips Crew
Guidance for providers of services for people experiencing homelessness (in the context of COVID-19)  Government of Canada
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)
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
Editorial: Challenges to Opioid Use Disorders During COVID-19 American Journal of Addictions
COVID-19 - Supporting Access to Buprenorphine American Society of Addiction Medicine
Collision of the COVID-19 and Addiction Epidemics Annals of Internal Medicine
An Epidemic in the Midst of a Pandemic: Opioid Use Disorder and COVID-19 Annals of Internal Medicine
When Epidemics Collide: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the Opioid Crisis 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
COVID-19: Information Resources Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance
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
COVID-19 and people who use drugs European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Caring for Pregnant and Parenting Women with OUD During the COVID-19 Pandemic (slides from webinar) Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts
COVID-19 – Supporting People Requiring Opioid Dependence Treatment (ODT)  Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Substance Use During the Pandemic Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Frequently Asked Questions: Subsection 56(1) Class Exemption for Patients, Practitioners and Pharmacists Prescribing and Providing Controlled Substances in Canada during the Coronavirus Pandemic Health Canada
First ISAM Webinar on COVID-19 and Drug Addiction, March 23, 2020  International Society of Addiction Medicine
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
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
COVID-19 Guidance: Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) Sites  Ontario Ministry of Health
COVID-19 news and resources for people living with pain Pain BC
Opioid use disorder and the COVID 19 pandemic: A call to sustain regulatory easements and further expand access to treatment Substance Abuse
Coronavirus (COVID-19) SAMHSA Resources and Information Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Managing Withdrawal during COVID-19 Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
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
Alcohol and Opiod 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
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for substance misuse and homelessness services (version 1) Welsh Government
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
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
CAMH: Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
COVID-19 and people who use drugs European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
COVID-19 Harm Reduction COVID-19: Stay Home, Stay Safe New Zealand Drug Foundation
Guidance on contingency planning for people who use drugs and COVID-19   Scottish Drugs Forum
There’s Life Beyond Addiction SMART Recovery
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
Vancouver CAT prescriber guidelines webinar Vancouver Coastal Health
Support and resources for women Women For Sobriety

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