Impact of a shelter-in-place order during the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of opioid overdoses

Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States, there have been concerns about the potential impact of the pandemic on persons with opioid use disorder. Shelter-in-place (SIP) orders, which aimed to reduce the spread and scope of the virus, likely also impacted...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of emergency medicine 2021-03, Vol.41, p.51-54
Main Authors: Rosenbaum, Jennifer, Lucas, Nicole, Zandrow, Gregory, Satz, Wayne A., Isenberg, Derek, D'Orazio, Joseph, Gentile, Nina T., Schreyer, Kraftin E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Disease transmission
Drug addiction
Drug overdose
Emergency medical care
Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data
Facilities and Services Utilization
Fentanyl
Heroin
Humans
Incidence
Narcotics
Opiate overdose
Opiate Overdose - epidemiology
Opiate Overdose - mortality
Opioid epidemic
Opioids
Overdose
Pandemics
Patients
Philadelphia - epidemiology
Physical Distancing
Poisoning
Population studies
Quarantine
Retrospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
Shelter in place
Shelters
Social distancing
Statistical analysis
Telemedicine
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Summary:Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States, there have been concerns about the potential impact of the pandemic on persons with opioid use disorder. Shelter-in-place (SIP) orders, which aimed to reduce the spread and scope of the virus, likely also impacted this patient population. This study aims to assess the role of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of opioid overdose before and after a SIP order. A retrospective review of the incidence of opioid overdoses in an urban three-hospital system was conducted. Comparisons were made between the first 100 days of a city-wide SIP order during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 100 days during the COVID-19 pandemic preceding the SIP order (Pre-SIP). Differences in observed incidence and expected incidence during the SIP period were evaluated using a Fisher's Exact test. Total patient visits decreased 22% from 46,078 during the Pre-SIP period to 35,971 during the SIP period. A total of 1551 opioid overdoses were evaluated during the SIP period, compared to 1665 opioid overdoses during the Pre-SIP period, consistent with a 6.8% decline. A Fisher's Exact Test demonstrated a p 
ISSN:0735-6757
1532-8171
DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.047