IPROC iproc Iproceedings 2369-6893 JMIR Publications Toronto, Canada v8i1e39419 10.2196/39419 Abstract Abstract Impact of COVID-19–related Isolation on Individuals in Treatment for Substance Use Pagoto Sherry Ondrusek Ashlin Ripley BA 1
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences Yale School of Public Health 135 College Street New Haven, CT, 06511 United States 1 713 205 0486 ashlin.ondrusek@yale.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2644-0990 Townsend Emily BS 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3728-2289 Warnock Charles BS, MPH 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1916-5422 Lowe Sarah PhD 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9544-4234 Muilenburg Jessica PhD 2 Kershaw Trace PhD 1 Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences Yale School of Public Health New Haven, CT United States College of Public Health University of Georgia Athens, GA United States Corresponding Author: Ashlin Ripley Ondrusek ashlin.ondrusek@yale.edu Jan-Dec 2022 8 7 2022 8 1 e39419 9 5 2022 24 6 2022 ©Ashlin Ripley Ondrusek, Emily Townsend, Charles Warnock, Sarah Lowe, Jessica Muilenburg, Trace Kershaw. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 08.07.2022. 2022

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 Background

For individuals in treatment for substance use, supportive social networks are essential to protect against a return to use.

 Objective

This study aimed to explore the impact of the swift and severe isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically for individuals in treatment for substance use disorder, by exploring the relationships amongst social connectedness and isolation to treatment accessibility, mental health, and substance use.

 Methods

A total of 24 semistructured interviews were conducted from May 2020 to August 2020 with participants engaged in substance use treatment asking about the impact of the pandemic on social networks, substance use, access to treatment, and mental health. Interviews were coded and analyzed using grounded theory.

 Results

Results centered around two main themes: (1) access to support (eg, formal and informal networks) and (2) individual outcomes regarding substance use and worsened mental health.

 Conclusions

This research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted access to resources for individuals in treatment for substance use, and calls for treatment centers and governing bodies to put more resources into telehealth and alternative treatment plans in the event of major disruptions, such as national disasters and global pandemics.

 Conflicts of Interest

None declared.

 substance use COVID-19 treatment accessibility