Northern Ireland Drug and Alcohol Alliance: Impacts of COVID-19 on People Who Use

Given the recent launch of this policy, Their previously marginalised and stigmatised status and understanding the COVID-19 impacts on drug use trends, experience of social and health inequalities was heightened related behaviours and service delivery is vital for strategic by the impacts of social distancing and infection control actions and implementation. [...] The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) to Services in Northern Ireland (2021) highlighted that COVID-19 impacts on the mental health of the general population have been exacerbated The Department of Health (2020) issued guidance to help for people who use drugs especially those with dependency substance use services address the challenges of complying and women who us. [...] Poor established to ensure regular communication between the mental health was evident through rising levels of anxiety and Department of Health (DOH), Health and Social Care Board depression due to feelings of isolation and loneliness, fear of (HSCB), Public Health Agency (PHA) and the five local Health contracting COVID-19 and worry about family members or and Social Care Trusts (HSCT) (DOH, 202. [...] Health and Social Impacts of COVID-19 This section presents results on the health and social impacts 4.1 Impacts of COVID-19 of COVID-19 on NIADA clients from the perspective of service providers, clients and family members. [...] Similar and differential impacts services and requests to isolate were particularly problematic on clients were connected to drug use patterns, service for this group given the daily necessity of accessing drugs and engagement and delivery during the pandemic.