Battling Two Frontiers: Substance Use Epidemic during a Pandemic

Dr. Michal Wilson, Medical Advisor, VHA Homeless Programs Office, moderates a series of podcasts featuring various subject matter experts from VHA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emergency Medicine, Pharmacy Academic Detailing Services and Veteran first responders. The podcast series is focused on advancing awareness, access to naloxone and aftercare to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid use disorder.

For several years our nation has been in an opioid epidemic with escalating usage, overdoses, and deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic created significant additional challenges in combatting the opioid epidemic necessitating increased awareness and creative approaches to identify, outreach, engage and treat Veterans. Homeless Veterans have a high risk for opioid overdose and resultant death, which require unique and targeted strategies. This series will explore strategies VHA is engaging and challenges faced in the midst of battling two intersecting crises of the pandemic and the substance use epidemic.