Tracking drug trends
Many experts, ourselves included, predicted significant shifts in drug trends as governments around the world introduced restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19.
Evidence from major environment, economic, and other past crises suggests the COVID-19 pandemic may have substantial effects on:
- drug use (for example, switching to different substances or being unable to obtain drugs)
- drug procurement (for example, shifts to online purchasing and buying drugs in larger quantities)
- drug markets (for example, changes in price, purity and availability of illicit drugs).
These changes may increase the risk of drug-related harms, such as withdrawal, drug dependence and overdose. This could be especially problematic given challenge in delivery of drug treatment and harm-reduction services during COVID-19.