Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid overdose and other adverse events in the USA and Canada: a systematic review
Authors' conclusion
Significant increases in surrogate measures of the opioid crisis coincided with the onset of COVID-19.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with opioid use, misuse and opioid use disorder in the US and Canada; peer-reviewed articles March 2020–December 202120 studies
- Comparison
- Period before vs after COVID-19 onset
- Outcome
- Changes in opioid-related outcomes after COVID-19 onset
Methodological detailsNewcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment, two independent reviewers
- Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment
- Two independent reviewers
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- Increase in service calls
- 17% to 61%
- Increase in ED visits
- 42% to 122%
- Urine drug testing positivity for fentanyl increased in all studies (100%, 6/6)
- 34% to 138%
- Urine drug testing positivity for heroin increased in most studies (80%, 4/5)
- −12% to 62%
- Urine drug testing positivity for oxycodone increased in most studies (75%, 3/4)
- 0% to 44%
Original publication
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid overdose and other adverse events in the USA and Canada: a systematic review. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 6 October 2022. doi:10.
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