Resources to Help Your Patients with SUD During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges for people with substance use disorders (SUDs) and people in recovery. To address the urgency of this rapidly evolving situation, we have compiled a list of COVID-19 resource pages from federal agencies and other organizations focusing on behavioral health and addiction. For general information, see NIDA Resources on COVID-19 and Substance Use

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Resources Specific to SUD and COVID-19

• On the Frontlines: COVID-19, Addiction, and the Emergency Department – Insights and lessons learned from an Emergency Department provider about substance use disorder, addiction treatment, and stigma.  
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration COVID-19 Webpage – Guidance for opioid treatment programs; virtual recovery resources; and considerations for treating SUDs and mental disorders.
• American Society of Addiction Medicine Resources COVID-19 Resources – Practice considerations, telehealth information, outpatient treatment guidance, drug testing protocols, and more.
• Providers Clinical Support System COVID-19 Resources – National and state guidance, toolkits, provider support, and other resources to help clinicians care for patients with OUD in the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Responding to Coronavirus: Resources from the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers – Webinars and resources related to telehealth and recovery, along with other provider resources.
• NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, COVID-19 Resources – Webinars, recent research, telehealth resources, and SUD-specific information.
• American Psychiatric Association COVID-19 Resources – Practice guidance, press releases, information on SUDs, and telehealth resources.

General Guidance Around COVID-19 for Health Care Professionals

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Page – News releases and resources from NIH and the federal government.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Professionals Page – Safety tips, trends and statistics, information for healthcare professionals, and resources for the general population.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Providers Fact Sheet – Learn about the types of services covered and important key takeaways from this policy change.
• Health Resources and Services Administration COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions – Telehealth information, funding opportunities, travel guidance, and information relating to HIV care and client services.
• Drug Enforcement Administration COVID-19 Information – FAQs, information on prescriptions and telemedicine, DEA policy and guidance on medication assisted treatment, and more.
• National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers COVID-19 Resources – FAQs, webinars, provider and practice resources, and information on telehealth and recovery.
• National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Directors COVID-19 Resources – Guidance and strategies, tips for social distancing, FAQs, and other federal resources to help states and territories prepare for and respond to COVID-19.

More on COVID-19 from NIDA

• COVID-19 Risk and Outcomes in Patients with Substance Use Disorders: Analyses from Electronic Health Records in the United States – Study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), September 2020.
• People With SUDs Have Increased Risk for COVID-19 and Worse Outcomes – NIDA Notes Article, January 2021.
• New Evidence on Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19 Susceptibility – Blog post by Dr. Nora Volkow.
• COVID-19 Resources (NIDA) – Answers to frequently asked questions, information for researchers, guidance for providers, and other resources and featured articles on COVID-19 and substance use.
• "Collision of the COVID-19 and Addiction Epidemics" – Article by National Institute on Drug Abuse Director, Dr. Nora Volkow in Annals of Internal Medicine.
• Nora's Blog: COVID-19: Potential Implications for Individuals with SUDs – Blog post by Dr. Nora Volkow.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information and Resources

• COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Hesitancy Q&A: Expanding Access to Vaccinations Among People with SUD – Q&As developed from interviews with clinicians on the ground.
• Talk to your patients about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Share information about its safety and efficacy to dispel myths and encourage vaccination.
  • Health Care Professionals – Refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for advice on explaining the vaccine to patients and answering their questions.
  • When sharing information with patients – Refer them to the CDC for information about safety and efficacy or to their state or county’s health department website.