The impact of COVID-19 on people receiving Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) in Australia

Anna Conway presented at the NDARC Webinar Series on Thursday 22 July 2021.

This presentation drew on the experiences of people receiving and providing Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic required Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) services to adapt quickly to ensure continuity of care. The CHOICE Study uses data collected from 70 in-depth interviews (40 people receiving OAT; 30 providers) to explore how OAT services in Australia responded to COVID-19 and the wider implications of the pandemic for people receiving OAT. Study findings will inform clinical practice and health policy, and highlight areas of future research for people who are dependent on opioids.