Characterizing Self-Reports of Self-Identified Patient Experiences with Methadone Maintenance Treatment on an Online Community during COVID-19

Conclusions: Patients described unanticipated consequences to one-size-fits-all policies that are unevenly applied resulting in suboptimal dosing, increased perceived risk of acquiring COVID-19 at OTPs, and reduced interaction with OTP providers and staff. While preliminary, these results are formative for follow-up surveillance metrics for patients of OTPs as well as digitally-mediated resource needs for this online community. This study serves as a model of how social media can be employed during and after emergencies to hear the lived experiences of patients for informed emergency preparedness and response.PMID:34486471 | DOI:10.1080/10826084.2021.1972317

Source: Substance Use and Misuse - September 6, 2021 Category: Addiction Authors: Alicia L Nobles Derek C Johnson Eric C Leas David Goodman-Meza Mar ía Luisa Zúñiga Douglas Ziedonis Steffanie A Strathdee John W Ayers Source Type: research