Early innovations in opioid use disorder treatment and harm reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Based on a literature review, the article synthesizes strategies used to prevent interruption of care for persons with opioid use disorders (SUDs). The review included OUD treatment and harm reduction services in five continents and a range of settings from substance use treatment to street outreach programs. Innovative service modifications to adapt to COVID-19 circumstances primarily involved expanded use of telehealth services (e.g., telemedicine visits for buprenorphine, virtual individual or group therapy sessions, provision of donated or publicly available phones), increased take-home medication allowances for methadone and buprenorphine, expanded uptake of long-acting opioid medications (e.g. extended-release buprenorphine and naltrexone), home delivery of services (e.g. MOUD, naloxone and urine drug screening), outreach and makeshift services for delivering MOUD and naloxone, and provision of a safe supply of opioids.

Resource Details

• Population: People With Substance Use Disorders
• Topics of Practice: Organizational Change/ Development|Policy Change/ Development
• Outcomes of Interest: Reduction of Health Disparities
• Level of Evidence: Novel
• Tools or Materials Included in Resource: No
• Social Determinants of Health: Healthcare Access and Quality
• Outside of US: No