Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Evidence. Engagement. Impact.
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

The information on COVID-19 and substance use in this section comes from resource collections, academic publications, policies and guides from the federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as professional organizations.

CCSA cannot vouch for the accuracy or currency of the information in these resources. Inclusion of a resource on this page does not imply endorsement or authorization by CCSA.

Academic Publications

Academic Publications

Resource Organization
A rapid review of the impacts of 'Big Events' on risks, harms, and service delivery among people who use drugs: Implications for responding to COVID-19 International Journal of Drug Policy
A Descriptive Comparison of Substance Use Services in Recovery and Isolation Sites for People Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Boston and Toronto Public Health Reports
Technology-assisted methadone take-home dosing for dispensing methadone to persons with opioid use disorder during the Covid-19 pandemic Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
The Double Effect of COVID-19 Confinement Measures and Economic Recession on High-Risk Drug Users and Drug Services European Addiction Research
Wastewater analysis suggests that consumption of fentanyl, cannabis and methamphetamine increased in the early pandemic period Statistics Canada, The Daily
The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare delivery for people who use opioids: a scoping review Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Substance use and abuse, COVID-19-related distress, and disregard for social distancing: A network analysis Addictive Behaviors
Take home injectable opioids for opioid use disorder during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic is in urgent need: a case study Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Securing Safe Supply During COVID-19 and Beyond: Scoping Review and Knowledge Mobilization Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Sociodemographic changes in emergency department visits due to alcohol during COVID-19 Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Screening and brief intervention for substance use disorders in times of COVID-19: potential opportunities, adaptations, and challenges American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Relationship of substance dependence and time to RT-PCR negative status in patients with COVID-19 infection Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Review of opioid risk assessment tools with the growing need for telemedicine Pain Management
Methadone Access for Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Within the United States and Canada JAMA Network Open
Pathways between COVID-19 public health responses and increasing overdose risks: A rapid review and conceptual framework International Journal of Drug Policy
Psychological and Demographic Determinants of Substance Use and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Frontiers in Public Health
Opioid use disorder treatment disruptions during the early COVID-19 pandemic and other emergent disasters: a scoping review addressing dual public health emergencies BMC Public Health
Mental health and substance use among children and adolescents amidst COVID-19: A systematic review Canadian Institutes of Health Research
A qualitative study on overdose response in the era of COVID-19 and beyond: how to spot someone so they never have to use alone Harm Reduction Journal
Going virtual: youth attitudes toward and experiences of virtual mental health and substance use services during the COVID-19 pandemic BMC Health Services Research
Genetic Liability to Cannabis Use Disorder and COVID-19 Hospitalization Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science
Adapting inpatient addiction medicine consult services during the COVID-19 pandemic Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Alcohol consumption and the COVID-19 pandemic : synthesizing knowledge for policy action Canadian Institutes of Health Research
A rapid review of opioid substitution therapy during major disruptions to medical care Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Digital Health Solutions to Support Women with Addiction during COVID-19: Applying a Gender- and Trauma-Informed Lens Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Genetic Liability to Cannabis Use Disorder and COVID-19 Hospitalization Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science
Adapting inpatient addiction medicine consult services during the COVID-19 pandemic Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Evidence of increased Fentanyl use during the COVID-19 pandemic among opioid agonist treatment patients in Ontario, Canada International Journal of Drug Policy
Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring gender differences and the role of emotional distress Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice
Changes in substance supply and use characteristics among people who use drugs (PWUD) during the COVID-19 global pandemic: A national qualitative assessment in Canada International Journal of Drug Policy
Conceptualizing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with opioid use disorder: an application of the social ecological model Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
COVID-19 impacts on drinking and mental health in emerging adults: Longitudinal changes and moderation by economic disruption and sex Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Digital Health Solutions to Support Women with Addiction during COVID-19: Applying a Gender- and Trauma-Informed Lens Canadian Institutes of Health Research
A longitudinal study of change in substance use from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic in young adults The Lancet Regional Health - Americas
Alcohol and other substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Comparison of Self-harm or Overdose Among Adolescents and Young Adults Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario JAMA Network Open
COVID-19 and opioid use disorder: Expanding treatment access in rural settings Nursing 2021
Getting high to cope with COVID-19: Modelling the associations between cannabis demand, coping motives, and cannabis use and problems Addictive Behaviors
Mental Health and Substance Use Associated with Hospitalization among People with COVID-19: A Population-Based Cohort Study Viruses
Opportunities to Integrate Mobile App-Based Interventions Into Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services in the Wake of COVID-19 American Journal of Health Promotion
Strategies Adopted by Addiction Facilities during the Coronavirus Pandemic to Support Treatment for Individuals in Recovery or Struggling with a Substance Use Disorder: A Scoping Review International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Substance, use in relation to COVID-19: A scoping review Addictive Behaviors
The impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on drug overdose-related deaths in the United States and Canada: A systematic review of observational studies and analysis of public health surveillance data Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
The influence of sex, gender, age, and ethnicity on psychosocial factors and substance use throughout phases of the COVID-19 pandemic PLoS One
Widening mental health and substance use inequities among sexual and gender minority populations: Findings from a repeated cross-sectional monitoring survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Psychiatry Research
Use of alcohol and other drugs increased early in the COVID-19 pandemic EENet
The influence of sex, gender, age, and ethnicity on psychosocial factors and substance use throughout phases of the COVID-19 pandemic PLOS ONE
Suicide and drug toxicity mortality in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: use of medical examiner data for public health in Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
Risky drinking during pandemic: Higher risk seen in women, those with financial and COVID-19 worries, older adults and high-income groups EENet
Research Snapshot: Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada EENet
Physician Health Care Visits for Mental Health and Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada JAMA Network Open
Opioid treatment programs, telemedicine and COVID-19: A scoping review Substance Abuse
Increases in Alcohol and Cannabis Use Associated with Deteriorating Mental Health among LGBTQ2+ Adults in the Context of COVID-19: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study in Canada, 2020–2021 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of take-home doses of opioid agonist therapy in Ontario, Canada: A population-based time-series analysis International Journal of Drug Policy
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of take-home doses of opioid agonist therapy Ontario Drug Policy Research Network
Evaluating how has care been affected by the Ontario COVID-19 Opioid Agonist Treatment Guidance: Patients’ and prescribers’ experiences with changes in unsupervised dosing International Journal of Drug Policy
COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among people in Australia who inject drugs: Implications for vaccine rollout Drug and Alcohol Review
Clinical and demographic differences in the willingness to use self-administered at-home COVID-19 testing measures among persons with opioid use disorder Substance Abuse
Changes in Alcohol Consumption in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations With Anxiety and Self-Perception of Depression and Loneliness Alcohol and Alcoholism
Alcohol and substance use in pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic Drug Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol and cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic among transgender, gender-diverse, and cisgender adults in Canada BMC Public Health
A longitudinal approach to understanding risk factors for problem alcohol use during the COVID‐19 pandemic Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
A randomized controlled trial of a therapeutic relational agent for reducing substance misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic Drug and alcohol Dependance
Sociodemographic changes in emergency department visits due to alcohol during COVID-19 Drug and alcohol Dependance
Perceived Impact of COVID on Smoking, Vaping, Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among Youth and Youth Adults in Canada Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Getting high to cope with COVID-19: Modelling the associations between cannabis demand, coping motives, and cannabis use and problems Addictive Behaviors
Changes in Alcohol Consumption in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations With Anxiety and Self-Perception of Depression and Loneliness Alcohol and Alcoholism
The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare delivery for people who use opioids: a scoping review Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Identifying the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on service access for people who use drugs (PWUD): A national qualitative study Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Differential impacts of COVID-19 across racial-ethnic identities in persons with opioid use disorder Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Review of the adaptations in opioid agonist treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Focus on buprenorphine-based treatment Journal of Opioid Management
Risk factors for elevations in substance use and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic among sexual and gender minorities assigned female at birth Drug and Alcohol Dependence
The impact of COVID-19 on gambling and gambling disorder: emerging data Current Opinions in Psychiatry
Investigating and addressing the immediate and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with substance use disorders: a scoping review and evidence map protocol BMJ Open
Patients' perceptions of telehealth services for outpatient treatment of substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic American Journal of Addictions
Understanding the Impacts of Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks on People Who Use Drugs: A Systematic Review to Inform Practice and Drug Policy Responses to COVID-19 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Assessing international alcohol consumption patterns during isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic using an online survey: highlighting negative emotionality mechanisms BMJ Open
Changes in substance supply and use characteristics among people who use drugs (PWUD) during the COVID-19 global pandemic: A national qualitative assessment in Canada International Journal of Drug Policy
Methadone Access for Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Within the United States and Canada JAMA Network Open
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on alcohol use disorders and complications Addictive Disorders
Is another public health crisis brewing beneath the COVID-19 pandemic? Canadian Journal of Public Health
Substance use and abuse, COVID-19-related distress, and disregard for social distancing: A network analysis Addictive Behaviors
Substance use and abuse, COVID-19-related distress, and disregard for social distancing: A network analysis Addictive Behaviors
Study Results: In a Small Sample of Individuals with SUD, Many Are Hesitant to Receive Vaccine Addiction Policy Forum
Alcohol use disorder: A pre-existing condition for COVID-19? Alcohol
Are Patients With Alcohol Use Disorders at Increased Risk for Covid-19 Infection? Alcohol and Alcoholism
Drinking to Cope During COVID‐19 Pandemic: The Role of External and Internal Factors in Coping Motive Pathways to Alcohol Use, Solitary Drinking, and Alcohol Problems Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Screening and brief intervention for substance use disorders in times of COVID-19: potential opportunities, adaptations, and challenges American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 
Caring for patients with pain during the COVID-19 pandemic: consensus recommendations from an international expert panel Anaesthesia
Relationship of substance dependence and time to RT-PCR negative status in patients with COVID-19 infection Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Alcohol consumption and the COVID-19 pandemic : synthesizing knowledge for policy action Canadian Institutes of Health Research
A rapid review of opioid substitution therapy during major disruptions to medical care Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Don't forget our dual public health crises Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine
Impacts of COVID-19 on Youth Mental Health, Substance Use, and Well-being: A Rapid Survey of Clinical and Community Samples Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Cannabinoids and the Coronavirus Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
People Who Use Drugs Are Experiencing Overlapping Crises During COVID-19 CMAJ
COVID-19 and addiction Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare access among patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Overdose and risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 Drug and Alcohol Dependence
The burden of alcohol on health care during COVID‐19 Drug and Alcohol Review
Illicit drug use and harms in Australia in the context of COVID ‐19 and associated restrictions: Anticipated consequences and initial response Drug and Alcohol Review
Substance Use Disorders and COVID-19: Multi-Faceted Problems Which Require Multi-Pronged Solutions Frontiers in Psychiatry
Rapid evidence review of harm reduction interventions and messaging for people who inject drugs during pandemic events: implications for the ongoing COVID‑19 response Harm Reduction Journal
Challenges in maintaining treatment services for people who use drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic Harm Reduction Journal
Evidence of increased Fentanyl use during the COVID-19 pandemic among opioid agonist treatment patients in Ontario, Canada International Journal of Drug Policy
A rapid review of the impacts of "Big Events" on risks, harms, and service delivery among people who use drugs: Implications for responding to COVID-19 International Journal of Drug Policy
An urgent impetus for action: safe inhalation interventions to reduce COVID-19 transmission and fatality risk among people who smoke crack cocaine in the United Kingdom International Journal of Drug Policy
Why we should all be more careful in drawing conclusions about how COVID-19 is changing drug markets International Journal of Drug Policy
An urgent impetus for action: safe inhalation interventions to reduce COVID-19 transmission and fatality risk among people who smoke crack cocaine in the United Kingdom International Journal on Drug Policy
Online Gambling in the Midst of COVID-19: A Nexus of Mental Health Concerns, Substance Use and Financial Stress International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
What Does Adolescent Substance Use Look Like During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Examining Changes in Frequency, Social Contexts, and Pandemic-Related Predictors Journal of Adolescent Health
What Does Adolescent Substance Use Look Like During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Examining Changes in Frequency, Social Contexts, and Pandemic-Related Predictors Journal of Adolescent Health
Cannabis in the Time of Coronavirus Disease 2019: The Yin and Yang of the Endocannabinoid System in Immunocompetence The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Challenges posed by COVID‐19 to people who inject drugs and lessons from other outbreaks Journal of the International AIDS Society
Alcohol Policy and Coronavirus: An Open Research Agenda Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
A commentary on the impact of COVID-19 on engagement of youth with substance use and co-occurring psychiatric disorders Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
A clash of epidemics: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic response on opioid overdose Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Youth OUD treatment during and after COVID: Increasing family involvement across the services continuum Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Commentary on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid use disorder treatment among Indigenous communities in the United States and Canada Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
COVID-19 and overdose prevention: Challenges and opportunities for clinical practice in housing settings Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Public health messaging and harm reduction in the time of COVID-19 The Lancet Psychiatry
Innovative strategies to support physical distancing among individuals with active addiction The Lancet Psychiatry
Alcohol use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: a potential public health crisis? The Lancet, Public Health
Addictions in the COVID-19 era: Current evidence, future perspectives a comprehensive review Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.
Review of opioid risk assessment tools with the growing need for telemedicine Pain Management
Addictions in the COVID-19 era: Current evidence, future perspectives a comprehensive review Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Clinical Risk Factors for COVID-19 Among People With Substance Use Disorders Psychiatric Services
Avoiding a new epidemic during a pandemic: The importance of assessing the risk of substance use disorders in the COVID-19 era Psychiatry Research
Substance Use-Related Harms and Risk Factors during Periods of Disruption Public Health Ontario
Canadians report lower self-perceived mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic Statistics Canada
Take home injectable opioids for opioid use disorder during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic is in urgent need: a case study Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
A double-edged sword of using opioids and COVID-19: a toxicological view Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
COVID-19, jeux de hasard et d’argent : impacts, transformations et réflexions (in French only) Chaire de recherche sur l'étude du jeu, Université Concordia
Study Results: In a Small Sample of Individuals with SUD, Many Are Hesitant to Receive Vaccine Addiction Policy Forum
COVID-19 and people who use drugs: a call for action Canadian Journal of Public Health
"The post-COVID era": challenges in the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) after the pandemic BMC Medicine
COVID-19 - Enacting a ‘new normal’ for people who use drugs International Journal of Drug Policy
Opioid Policy Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic - and Beyond Journal of Addiction Medicine
Lessons from COVID 19: Are we finally ready to make opioid treatment accessible? Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Business Not as Usual - Covid-19 Vaccination in Persons with Substance Use Disorders New England Journal of Medicine
Addictions in the COVID-19 era: Current evidence, future perspectives a comprehensive review Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience possible on our website. 

You can change your cookie settings in your web browser at any time. If you continue without changing your settings, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive cookies from our website. Review our Privacy Notice for more information.