“The (Covid-19) pandemic has caused great damage to the health and well-being of the elderly. However, there is also a hidden epidemic of drug use affecting this population group, ”said the president of theOICS, Cornelis de Joncheere.
“Drug use and drug-related deaths among the elderly are on the rise, as are the number of elderly people in treatment for drug use problems,” he said.
The body of independent experts also highlighted the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global supply of medicines and on the well-being of people with mental health disorders and addiction.
An alarming trend
The aging of the world population is accompanied by an increase in drug use among people over 65, reports the INCB.
The report notes an increase in the consumption of analgesics, tranquilizers and sedatives among this population. Seniors with substance abuse problems also face particular age-related issues, including isolation or physical challenges.
To reverse this “alarming trend”, INCB recommends that governments step up research on drug use among the elderly, which is largely overlooked in surveys of drug use, as well as improve access to the health and treatment services intended for them.
Access to treatment
Meanwhile, demand for some controlled drugs has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has also caused disruptions in global supply chains.
Health services and access to medicines, especially for people with mental disorders and drug addiction, have been affected.
The INCB has stressed that governments must ensure that these populations have continued access to prevention and treatment services during the global crisis.
The growing demand for Covid-19 therapeutics is further reducing the availability of certain drugs containing controlled substances. Countries are urged to review their demand forecasts for these treatments and to streamline administrative and logistical requirements.
New online drug store
The INCB has reported on other side effects of the pandemic, such as the growth of the online drug trade through encrypted communications by organized crime groups.
Drug users also use the dark web, social media and online forums to obtain illicit substances.
Travel restrictions and physical distancing measures have also resulted in shortages of some drugs and higher prices in the illicit market.
At the same time, overdose rates have increased due to declining purity of illicit drug stocks and the use of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.
In Afghanistan, the deterioration of the drug control situation remains of concern. The country accounted for nearly 85% of global opium production over the past five years and illicit production remained high in 2019.
The INCB has urged the international community to provide technical and financial assistance to support drug control efforts in that country.
“If the illicit cultivation and production of drugs, drug trafficking, drug use and drug use disorders in Afghanistan are not comprehensively addressed, broader efforts in sustainable development, prosperity and peace in Afghanistan are unlikely to be effective, ”warned Mr. de Joncheere.
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