COVID-19 and SUD Resources

Policies, resources, and practices to support care of people with substance use disorders (SUDs) during the current COVID pandemic are changing rapidly.

Below are some links that may be helpful to keep up with the issues as they evolve and some resources to share with others. We will make every effort to update as new information and resources become available.

NEW: Survey Report on COVID-19 & Substance Use in New Hampshire

COVID-SUD state and federal policies

Prescribing and telehealth regulatory changes relevant to treatment of SUD including MAT

• Guidance for adjusting drug protocols due to COVID-19
• NH Governor’s statement on temporary expansion of telehealth, 3-18-20 (PDF)
• Guidance on Telehealth during COVID from the NH Office of Professional Licensing, 3-20-20 (PDF)
• Federal and State Regulations and Practice Guidance for COVID-19 and Substance Use Disorders (PDF)
• DEA statement on controlled substance prescribing exceptions engendered by formal declaration of COVID 19 pandemic
• DEA exemptions for delivery of medications from licensed OTPs (PDF)

Privacy and confidentiality changes relevant to telehealthand treatment of SUD

• SAMHSA COVID 42 CFR guidance (PDF) 
• HIPAA enforcement discretion

More information/resources on policies related to COVID, SUD and telehealth

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) statement on COVID impact on persons with SUD
• SAMHSA’s  COVID 19 guidance for opioid treatment programs and providers:
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration homepage
• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Coronavirus page with diverse links and resources 

Clinical and patient support materials for care during COVID

General COVID and SUD related information

• SAMHSA Tips for social distancing, quarantining and isolation during an infectious disease epidemic: Taking care of your behavioral health (PDF)
• NH DHHS Behavioral Health during Covid 19: Community Support Resources
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Guidance for Patients with SUD during COVID pandemic (PDF) and New Hampshire Professionals Health Program
• Yale Program in Addiction Medicine COVID guidance for Clinicians (PDF)
• Drug Use Harm Reduction during COVID pandemic, handout

Online mutual support group platforms and resources to support care while social distancing

• Many of New Hampshire’s extensive network of Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) are now doing online groups and providing other virtual support services
  • COVID 19 Online Recovery Resources
  • Map of Regional RCOs
• In The Rooms, offers a robust schedule and selection of online groups – for instance, you can view today’s schedule   
• Multiple 12-step program resources online
• AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) Online Intergroup: both groups and discussion forums
• NAWS (Narcotics Anonymous World Services): Find a meeting and Never Alone Club
• SMART Recovery

Recorded webinars on COVID-19 and the needs of the SUD community

Webinars on COVID-19 and the needs of the SUD community that we serve are hosted by David de Gijsel, MD, MSc, MPH, Infectious Disease Specialist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Assistant Professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, and Medical Director of Better Life Partners.

• Review the previous webinars.

Downloadable recovery support apps to support care while social distancing

• Connections App: A comprehensive, evidence-based recovery support app developed by Yale and University of Wisconsin addiction medicine researchers.
• Sober Grid App: A world side recovery support community.
• I Am Sober
• Sober Tool
• Nomo

Mindfulness apps to support SUD recovery & well-being while social distancing

• Insight Timer
• Smiling Mind
• Stop, Breath, & Think
• UCLA Mindful
• 10% Happier

Provider self-care resources

• Healthcare professional self-care resources for the COVID pandemic from the New Hampshire Professional Health Program (PDF)
• Nursing self-care resources for students and professionals, 2020 resource list