COVID-19 rapid evidence profile #21: What is the impact of the pandemic on substance use (particularly, alcohol and opioid use) in the population, and what policy decisions have been adopted that affect the availability and use of substances, as well as services for people who use substances?

Abstract

An overview of the best available research evidence from around the world (i.e., evidence syntheses) and local research evidence (i.e., single studies) and may include a scan of experiences from other countries and from Canadian provinces and territories, about the impact of the pandemic on substance use (particularly, alcohol and opioid use) in the population, and what policy decisions have been adopted that affect the availability and use of substances, as well as services for people who use substances in response to a decision-maker’s request.