ABSTRACT
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared a disaster that created a pathway for serious implications in substance use prevention and treatment among marginalized populations and individuals impacted by substance use disorders (SUDs). Recent studies identify SUD as an important area of inquiry when examining the effects of disasters, highlighting an association, or a strong link between the disaster-effects and an increase in SUD. Disaster-exposure often contributes to a decrease in coping strategies, and in turn, increases psychological distress, and subsequently increases SUD in vulnerable individuals. In this chapter, we discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic disaster has exacerbated challenges for individuals impacted by SUD and propose effective strategies that health care providers can utilize to help alleviate SUD increase during the mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery phases of disasters. We use concepts from the life stress process and environmental affordances model, and self-medication hypothesis, to accentuate an integrative approach to explain the increase of SUD during the COVID-19 pandemic disaster. We conclude with suggestions for innovative SUD service delivery approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic disaster to decrease SUD disparities, remove access barriers to treatment options, create better opportunities for individuals to recover from psychological distress, and improve more desirable outcomes for vulnerable individuals impacted by SUD.
