"I have to be around people that are doing what I'm doing": The importance of expanding the peer recovery coach role in treatment of opioid use disorder in the face of COVID-19 health disparities

Mary B Kleinman, Julia W Felton, Andre Johnson, Jessica F Magidson, Mary B Kleinman, Julia W Felton, Andre Johnson, Jessica F Magidson

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing opioid epidemic are causing notable morbidity and mortality among low-income and minority populations. Peer recovery coaches (PRCs), people with lived experience of substance use and recovery, are uniquely positioned to support underserved, minority individuals who face the greatest barriers to care. This commentary combines research and clinical perspectives to describe the potential role of PRCs in reaching and supporting particularly vulnerable populations in the setting of substantial changes in the opioid use disorder (OUD) recovery landscape during COVID-19. During this time, PRCs can provide guidance from their own experience navigating changes to routines and social support systems, reduce social isolation, build trust and buy-in, and support engagement in care. Specific barriers include access to technology and underlying distrust of public and medical authorities. This article highlights the importance of expanding the reach of the PRC workforce as well as supporting their specific needs at this time to combat the intersecting devastation of two epidemics.

Keywords: COVID-19; Health status disparities; Opioid use disorder; Peer recovery coach.

Conflict of interest statement

None.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

References

    1. Alexander G.C., Stoller K.B., Haffajee R.L., Saloner B. An epidemic in the midst of a pandemic: Opioid use disorder and COVID-19. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2020 doi: 10.7326/M20-1141.
    1. Alter A., Yeager C. The consequences of COVID-19 on the overdose epidemic: Overdoses are increasing. Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program. 2020
    1. Cabral R.R., Smith T.B. Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 2011;58(4):537–554. doi: 10.1037/a0025266.
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020, from.
    1. Chapman S.A., Blash L.K., Mayer K., Spetz J. Emerging roles for peer providers in mental health and substance use disorders. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2018;54(6 Suppl 3):S267–S274. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.02.019.
    1. Fortuna K.L., Myers A.L., Walsh D., Walker R., Mois G., Brooks J.M. Strategies to increase peer support specialists’ capacity to use digital technology in the era of COVID-19: Pre-post study. JMIR Mental Health. 2020;7(7) doi: 10.2196/20429.
    1. Green T.C., Bratberg J., Finnell D.S. Opioid use disorder and the COVID 19 pandemic: A call to sustain regulatory easements and further expand access to treatment. Substance Abuse. 2020;41(2):147–149. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2020.1752351.
    1. Greenblatt A.D., Magidson J.F., Belcher A.M., Ghandi D., Weintraub E. Overdue for an overhaul: How opioid treatment programs can learn from COVID-19. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2020 doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.08.011.
    1. Hooper M.W., Nápoles A.M., Pérez-Stable E.J. COVID-19 and racial/ethnic disparities. JAMA. 2020 doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.8598.
    1. Leppla I.E., Gross M.S. Optimizing medication treatment of opioid use disorder during COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2020 doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000678.
    1. Satinsky E.N., Doran K., Felton J.W., Kleinman M., Dean D., Magidson J.F. Adapting a peer recovery coach-delivered behavioral activation intervention for problematic substance use in a medically underserved community in Baltimore City. PLoS One. 2020;15(1) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228084.
    1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) guidance. 2020.
    1. Wakeman S.E., Green T.C., Rich J. An overdose surge will compound the COVID-19 pandemic if urgent action is not taken. Nature Medicine. 2020:1–2. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0898-0.
    1. Wilson, N. (2020). Drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths—United States, 2017–2018. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69. doi:.
    1. Yancy C.W. COVID-19 and African Americans. JAMA. 2020;323(19):1891–1892. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.6548.

Source: PubMed

Patrocinadores e Colaboradores

Condições médicas

Intervenções de drogas

3
Se inscrever