Join ICUDDR on Friday Dec 18th at 12 noon EST for a Twitter chat with esteemed researcher, Professor, and Executive Director of the UNC Horizons Program, Hendrée E. Jones, PhD about helping parents with SUDs cope during the COVID19 pandemic.
Tag questions and comments with #ParentingSUD.
The fight against COVID-19 continues throughout the U.S., increasing stress and anguish among vulnerable populations struggling with substance use. Among those vulnerable populations, pregnant women present major concerns as they face an increase in adversity during the wake of the global pandemic.
It is a difficult time for everyone, especially those facing more adversities such as pregnant women. Health providers and mental health providers must be highly vigilant in caring for pregnant women and should consider providing the following tools and resources, according to American Society of Addiction Medicine.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions associated with it have changed people’s lives in almost all countries. However, very few realize how the lives of people with drug use disorders – who are among the most vulnerable and in need of ongoing care – have changed. On the one hand, the closure of borders during quarantine has led to a dramatic reduction in access to narcotic drugs. On the other hand, loss of income has become a problem for people with many forms of dependence accompanied by various diseases. Exposure to COVID-19 can also lead to complications due to their weak immunity.
We interviewed one of the psychotherapy practitioners in drug treatment facilities of Uzbekistan, who, since the onset of the pandemic, has adapted activities to the new constraints posed by COVID-19 in order to help ensure continued access to direct psychological and therapeutic care for patients with drug dependence.
What has changed since the pandemic outbreak?
"Since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, we lived like on a powder keg", says Tatyana Sobornitskaya, a psychotherapist at the Tashkent City Narcological Dispensary. "Admission of patients with drug and psychotropic substance dependence sharply decreased with introduction of lockdown. At the same time, an increase in the number of patients admitted with alcohol dependence was observed. Later we discovered that some people with drug and psychotropic substance dependence have switched to alcohol due to drug shortages.”
Challenges associated with the new working regime included: the need to wear protective equipment (PPE) during the day and while working with patients; challenges with identifying whether a patient with drug dependence admitted via ambulance was in contact with anyone infected with COVID-19; and the need to look for symptoms of coronavirus infection in addition to the diagnosis of narcological pathology.
In July 2020, cases of infection were detected in the facility, among patients and some employees, including Tatyana herself. "It was very hard. I stayed in the department for two weeks,” says Tatyana. "In addition to psychotherapy, I also had to deal with the treatment of patients admitted to the facility, with constant contacts and in close consultation with epidemiologists. On top of that, different kinds of information coming from outside made patients scared and anxious. This led to a need for a series of balancing conversations in addition to treatment. Thanks to the support of the Chief Clinician and well-coordinated work of staff, the necessary medication-assisted therapy was selected, which helped patients to cope with the disease.”
From July to September 2020, 306 patients – including 89 people with drug dependence – were admitted to in-patient treatment.
Silver Linings
"Nevertheless, on the bright side, during these two weeks, patients were very well acceptive with regards to information about their drug dependence, they opened up easily under such unusual circumstances", mentioned Dr. Sobornitskaya.
Another positive aspect was the convenience of online communication with persons with dependence. "Online communication turned out to be convenient and simple", says Tatyana. "I run a Telegram channel for patients, and they get in touch when necessary".
Following Tatyana's dedicated work during the pandemic, she was entrusted to head the in-patient drug treatment department of the Tashkent City Narcological Dispensary.
Medico-social rehabilitation
It should be noted that the Rehabilitation Department of the Tashkent City Narcological Dispensary provides qualified free medical and psychological care to those who found themselves in a difficult situation. Upon the patient's desire to be supported, the Dispensary staff stand ready to provide all necessary care.
Universal Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders
The UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia under UNODC Global Project GLOJ71 "Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: TREATNET II" delivers capacity-building activities in the field of drug dependence treatment and care. It aims to enhance the Member States’ capacities on drug use disorder treatment, reintegration and care. This includes related mental and medical disorders. In particular, the capacity-building activities are facilitated through the Universal Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders (UTC) developed with the U.S. Department of State’s (INL) financial support. The overall goal of the training activities is to reduce the medical, social, and economic problems associated with substance use disorders by developing the international treatment capacity through training, enhancing skills, and expanding the global treatment workforce. The training prepares addiction specialists for professional certification by providing the latest information about substance use disorders and treatment. It facilitates hands-on activities to develop their skills and confidence.
Dr. Sobornitskaya, a member of a team of national trainers from Uzbekistan, has successfully completed all nine courses of the Basic Level Universal Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders (UTC) and received the status of the "International Certified Addiction Professional Level 1" (ICAP I).
Building Strength and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus on Parents with Substance Use Disorders and Their Children
A live webinar exploring strategies for building strength and resilience in parents with substance use disorders during this difficult time.
Presenter: Hendrée E Jones, PhD, Executive Director, UNC Horizons, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina
Moderator: Cary Hopkins Eyles, MA, CAP
Date: 11/11/2020 at 9:00am Eastern / 2pm London
Location: Webinar
To register please email Cary Hopkins Eyles at: eylesc [at] icuddr [dot] org
English
Learn about both the challenges and opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use, opioid overdose, and treatment.
To support the continuity of treatment and care services for drug use disorders, PTRS / GLOK32 through UBRAF funds, following a webinar on continued access to treatment held in June 2020, supported the Ministry of Health in Côte d'Ivoire with the provision of personal protective equipment to services and centers and the procurement of a sewing machine to manufacture reusable masks for a community-based organization to promote the safe and secure availability of treatment and care services under the COVID-19 health crisis for people with drugs use disorders. The reusable masks manufacturing equipment will allow the Assouindé Therapeutic Community to maintain its care and to start income-generating activities related to sewing for the most vulnerable.
UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia and UNODC PTRS in collaboration with the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre on Mental Health of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan held national webinar on 25 September 2020. The purpose of the webinar was to create a forum for national experts to share valuable international experience on how to ensure the continuity and sustainability of drug dependence treatment, HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services for people who use drugs and how to implement evidence-based policies that ensure access to effective drug dependence treatment and HIV programmes for people who use drugs.
Work of the webinar was focused on presentation and discussion of the following topics:
Participants also shared experiences of adaptation of the forms and methods of providing drug dependence treatment and care services to the new conditions.
A total of 68 national addiction professionals involved in drug dependence treatment, HIV prevention, care and support services to people who use drugs were reported to attend the webinar and they expressed high interest to continue the work of the forum.
The activity was conducted within the framework of the UNODC global project GLOJ71: “Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: Treatnet II”
