A Health Crisis within a Health Crisis: Opioid Access in the Covid-19 Pandemic

The novel coronavirus has thrown large sections of our healthcare system into disarray, with providers overburdened by record breaking number of hospitalizations and deaths. The U.S., in particular, has remained the nation with one of the fastest growing case counts in the world. As a consequence, many other critical healthcare needs have not received the necessary resources or consideration. This commentary draws attention to substance use and opioid access during the ongoing crisis, given the potential for breakdowns in treatment access for addiction, the growing concern of mental health comorbidities, and the lack of access for those who require opioids for adequate pain management. Further, the commentary will offer policy and practice recommendations that may be implemented to provide more equitable distribution of care.