Developing a digital health strategy for people who use drugs: Lessons from COVID-19

Melissa Perri; Adrian Guta; Marilou Gagnon; Matt Bonn; Pamela Leece; Ahmed M Bayoumi; Nanky Rai; Natasha Touesnard; Carol Strike

doi:10.1177/20552076211028404

Developing a digital health strategy for people who use drugs: Lessons from COVID-19

Digit Health. 2021 Jun 28:7:20552076211028404. doi: 10.1177/20552076211028404. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Melissa Perri^{1

2}, Adrian Guta³, Marilou Gagnon⁴, Matt Bonn^{5

6}, Pamela Leece^{1

7

8}, Ahmed M Bayoumi^{2

9}, Nanky Rai⁸, Natasha Touesnard⁵, Carol Strike^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
² MAP Center for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
³ School of Social Work, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada.
⁴ Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, Victoria, Canada.
⁵ Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs, Dartmouth, Canada.
⁶ Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Ottawa, Canada.
⁷ Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada.
⁸ Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Canada.
⁹ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Abstract

COVID-19 has significantly exacerbated negative health and social outcomes for people who use drugs (PWUD) around the world. The closure of harm reduction services, ongoing barriers to employment and housing, and pre-existing physical and mental health conditions have increased harms for diverse communities of PWUD. Adapting current models of health and human service delivery to better meet the needs of PWUD is essential in minimizing not only COVID-19 but also drug-related morbidity and mortality. This article draws on research, practice, and advocacy experiences, and discusses the potential for digital health tools such as remote monitoring and telecare to improve the continuum of care for PWUD. We call for a digital health strategy for PWUD and provide recommendations for future program development and implementation.

Keywords: COVID-19; Harm reduction; digital health; overdose prevention; pandemic.