Addressing The Syndemic Of Hiv, Hepatitis C, Overdose, And Covid-19 Among People Who Use Drugs: The Potential Roles For Decriminalization And Safe Supply

People who use drugs (PWUD) face concurrent public health emergencies from overdoses, HIV, hepatitis C, and COVID-19, leading to an unprecedented syndemic. Responses to PWUD that go beyond treatment-such as decriminalization and providing a safe supply of pharmaceutical-grade drugs-could reduce impacts of this syndemic. Solutions already implemented for COVID-19, such as emergency safe-supply prescribing and providing housing to people experiencing homelessness, must be sustained once COVID-19 is contained. This pandemic is not only a public health crisis but also a chance to develop and maintain equitable and sustainable solutions to the harms associated with the criminalization of drug use.