COVID-19 in India: Health Implications and Treatment Needs of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) and Patients with Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

Abstract

Introduction: The Covid-19 actuated lockdown in India had put huge number of People who use drugs (PWUD) in panicky over their hankering for substance use with flexibly chain interruptions. Point of this paper was to comprehend the Covid-19 incited issues looked by PWUD and those with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) in India. Techniques: A fast subjective exploration was directed distantly from May to early June 2020, during lockdown period in India, with assent situated inside and out meetings with key partners from national organizations and medication deaddiction focus in East and Northern-East India. Results: The current general wellbeing emergency raises genuine extra worries for the prosperity of PWUD as they run similar dangers of disease by COVID-19 because of fundamental ceaseless ailments. During the current Covid-19 pandemic, there has been steady missing of treatment administrations for Patients with Substance Use Disorders (SUD). The individuals who required treatment during lockdowns confronted issues as government upheld sedate deaddiction habitats, which halted new affirmation however of late began new confirmation yet in diminished numbers. The outpatient administrations of medication treatment focuses (DTC) at some administration emergency clinics couldn't work. The Opioid Substitution Therapy focuses, however began apportioning of methadone on fortnightly and buprenorphine on seven-day top off premise, yet there remained travel related issues and detailed badgering during lockdown stage. Conclusion: Specific measures to mitigating health service needs of PWUD in India should be put inplace, taking lessons from the current pandemic situation.