The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medications for opioid use disorder services in the U.S. and Canada: a scoping review

Abstract Background Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, preliminary evidence suggests that rates of opioid use and overdose in North America have only been exacerbated. During this time, healthcare services providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have faced heightened challenges, rapidly adjusting services in order to continue to provide access to treatment. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on MOUD services in the U.S. and Canada, this scoping review summarizes and synthesizes the existing literature on this topic. Methods Articles were deemed eligible to be included in this review if they met the following three criteria: focused on MOUD services; situated within the COVID-19 pandemic; and situated within the U.S. or Canada. Results Common themes among the articles that met inclusion included the impacts of MOUD policy changes; the transition to telehealth; challenges to providing MOUD; innovative changes to services; and recommendations for policy and service changes. Many articles supported MOUD regulatory changes, with some finding these changes had increased access to MOUD for underserved populations. Conclusions There is currently a pressing need to evaluate the impacts on MOUD services in greater depth, as recent changes could have lasting implications on future MOUD regulatory policies and treatment standards.