The impacts of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of people who use drugs

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health threat, responsible for at least 500,000 deaths worldwide. In Australia, the low death toll, 104 at the time of writing, is attributed to early intervention to close borders and restrict social and physical interactions. However, these interventions are likely to have unintended but profound consequences for people who use illicit drugs by interrupting illicit drug supply, changing drug procurement, use and risk behaviours, and affecting the nature and delivery of health services. The project: The project will leverage two prospective cohort studies of people who use drugs to determine COVID-19 impact. SuperMIX is a study of people who inject drugs that has been ongoing since 2008. VMAX is an analogous study of people who (largely) smoke methamphetamine that has been ongoing since 2016. They are the only active studies of their type in Australia, providing data from recurring interviews conducted over years prior to the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as unprecedented and extensive record linkage to comprehensive health data (e.g. Medicare, hospital, ambulance). Data specifically related to the COVID-19 emergency are also being collected. The project will leverage these two studies to conduct an in-depth quantitative study of COVID-19 impacts on these members of our community who have been largely ignored in the COVID-19 public health policy response to date. Outcome: The project will provide new and important evidence about the impacts of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on people who use drugs that will guide the COVID-19 response in the first instance as well as informing strategies for future prevention and management of pandemics and natural disasters.