How COVID-19 Is Changing Addiction Medicine
In collaboration with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, CSAM-SMCA sponsored a specialized track on COVID-19 and substance use at our annual conference in November 2020. In the report below, we’ve summarized the lessons learned and key outcomes from the event.
Intended for a broad audience, including clinicians, researchers and students, this report examines how COVID-19 is affecting care for those with substance use disorders (SUDs), including substance supply and use patterns as well as social and psychological issues arising from lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. The report summarizes featured symposia, presentations and posters, and explores the impact of different international approaches to care for on this complex issue.
The report aims to address several important questions including:
- How has the treatment of addiction changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
- What are the key challenges for researching and disseminating information about substance use and SUDs?
- What have been the major deficits and opportunities in treating SUDs during the pandemic?
- What key lessons learned from the pandemic will improve addiction services and support
The Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine is a national society of medical professionals and scientists committed to helping Canadians understand, accept, and recover from substance use disorders.
