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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is delivered, often transitioning to telephone and video call services. A study published by the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) publications examined the uptake of these services across the spectrum. The researchers engaged 457 organizations from 43 states and found that greater than 70% of the treatment organizations used technology to deliver their services. Phone and video services were cited to be the most widely used. Screening was most commonly delivered through telephonic services, and outpatient therapy was the most common video delivered service. However, in comparison to video services, respondents reported telephonic services were easier to access, afford and sustain. There was also high intent to continue using technology-based services post the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall ease of access and usefulness were revealed to be the driving factors in intent to continue both telephone- and video-delivered services.
A study done by the University of Southern California found that gender can be a determinant for reasons of relapse among people with opioid use disorder. The study followed 1,137 men and women one year after treatment at 137 substance use treatment facilities across the United States. The study looked at more than 30 potential reasons for substance abuse after treatment. For females, younger age, prior substance use disorder treatment, and treatment resistance were the found to be the largest risk factors in post-treatment use. For males, conduct disorder symptoms, younger age, and multiple substance use disorders were found to be strongly linked to opioid use after treatment. Hence, the study suggests that females would benefit from treatments that aggressively address withdrawal symptoms and emphasize management of negative effects with appropriate medications and cognitive behavioral approaches. For males, a focus on cognitive–behavioral and mutual‐help interventions that directly target substance use behaviors and support development of prosocial behaviors, was suggested.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is accepting applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants. The program has two goals: 1) Establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, as well as federal, state, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth (individuals 18 years of age and younger); 2) Reduce substance abuse among youth and over time reduce substance abuse among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse. The application is due by 11:59 p.m. EDT May 10.
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