Abstract

Experiences and beliefs of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and social distancing among people who use opioids: A web-based survey

Jesse Boggis, MPH¹, Elizabeth Saunders, PhD¹, Grace Janzow , BS², Cassandra Harding, MPH², Lisa Marsch, PhD¹, Jacob Borodovsky, PhD¹, Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD² (1)Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, (2)Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened health risks and challenges for people who are underserved, including people who use opioids (PWUO). Mitigating the spread of COVID-19 among PWUO will entail community testing, vaccination, and social distancing. This survey aimed to investigate the experiences and beliefs of PWUO with COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and social distancing in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Experiences and beliefs of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and social distancing were assessed through an online Qualtrics survey. Participants (n=182) were recruited from April 1-30, 2021, through Reddit forums. Eligible participants were 18 years of age or older, resided in the United States, and scored a three or higher on the Rapid Opioid Dependence Screener (RODS). Descriptive statistics were calculated using Stata.

Results: Since January 1, 2020, 69.2% (n=126) of participants reported ever being tested for COVID-19, of whom 46.8% (n=59) reported ever testing positive. When asked about access to a testing site in their community, 71.4% (n=130) did not currently know where testing takes place. 55% (n=100) of participants reported receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The majority of participants believed COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration were safe (74.7%, n=136) and effective (76.9%, n=140) in preventing COVID-19. Compared to March 2020, 64.8% (n=118) reported being more willing to engage in social distancing and 74.8% (n=83) reported missing a treatment appointment for opioid use because they were practicing social distancing.

Conclusions: Within our sample, PWUO report utilizing testing and vaccination for COVID-19 at some point during the COVID-19 pandemic, and greater willingness to engage in social distancing compared to when U.S. state lockdowns began. Study findings support the need for further investigation of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and social distancing uptake among PWUO as well as potential facilitators and barriers.

Supported by NIH/NIDA P30DA029926 and T32DA037202.