Covid-19 Information

People who use drugs may often have limited access to healthcare resources and are faced with stigma and other barriers to appropriate care. Staying up-to-date with covid information is key to prevention, staying healthy, and out of the hospital.

The Pandemic Is Still Happening and Covid Cases Are On The Rise, You Can Still Protect Yourself.

Covid-19 infection may intensify slowed breathing and respiratory depression during opioid use. Opioid withdrawal may worsen symptoms and discomfort and smoking drugs like crack, meth, or weed could make breathing more difficult if you are experiencing breathing complications. Be aware of your body and take your overall health into consideration when choosing to use and how much.

Long term Covid effects can include organ damage, systemic inflammation and problems with the immune system. Not everyone who gets sick will be affected in this way but studies show even a mild infection can raise your risk of heart problems.

Proper Air filtration and good air flow helps!

If you’re spending time indoors with others, consider opening a window, turning on a fan or even making a box fan air filter.

Making the Right Descision for You

CDC guidelines recommend implementation of safety protocols that rely on metrics that present the data based on the impact to healthcare systems (ie. how many hospital beds are being used by Covid-19 patients) rather than the risk to individual health and safety. From a public health standpoint, data driven decision making should be at the focal point of any Covid-19 response. Unfortunately, we as individuals have been left to make decisions for ourselves as best we can. The coronavirus has had an outsize impact on the Black community and failure to address the pandemic within a social justice framework supports white supremacy. By looking at the number of cases in your area and how many tests are positive (aka the positivity rate) you can make informed decisions about what level of risk is acceptable for you and any health concerns you may have.

 

COVID PDFs

BY NEXT

Long Covid

In English

So You got covid

In English

 

Covid Myths vs. Facts

 

MYTH:

“It’s Just the Flu!”

FACT:

Covid killed over 1 million people from March 2020 to March 2022 in the United States. The flu killed 14,748 at the most during the same time. Additionally, we are seeing flu death rates rise in the winter of 2022 without the masking protocols and mass vaccinations seen earlier in the pandemic.

MYTH:

“There’s a Microchip in the Vaccine!”

FACT:

First, the smallest microchip is the size of a grain of rice, still too big to inject into a human arm. Second, microchips need power sources and then it would have to transmit a signal through your skin, fat, and muscle which is not possible.

MYTH:

“The Vaccine Has Turned People Into Zombies.”

FACT:

Some people have spread the incorrect belief that the movie I am Legend was a blueprint for the Covid-19 pandemic. In the film, it isn’t actually a vaccine but the virus itself that causes the transition. Regardless, this myth is based on a fictional story.

MYTH:

“Natural Immunity is Just as Good or Better Than a Vaccine.”

FACT:

Temporary immunity from getting infected fades quickly afterwards. The vaccine will not prevent you from catching Covid or developing long term symptoms but it does decrease your risk of severe illness or death. The vaccine is not a magic bullet, but it’s one of many things you can do to keep yourself and your family safer.

MYTH:

“The Covid Vaccine changes peoples DNA”

FACT:

Covid vaccines deliver instructions to teach the body how to build protection against the virus. mRNA vaccines give cells instructions for how to make a piece of protein that is found on the surface of the Covid virus. The protein is then displayed on the surface of cells in the body. Once the immune system recognizes that the protein doesn't belong there, it makes antibodies to fight off what looks like an infection. After the mRNA delivers instructions, it's immediately broken down. It doesn't enter the nucleus of your cells, where the DNA is kept.

MYTH:

“Masks make kids sick.”

FACT:

In addition to preventing Covid, masks may keep kids from touching their mouths and faces, which is another way Covid, colds, flu and RSV and other respiratory diseases are spread.

 
 
 

JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE AT RISK. THERE ARE WAYS TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.

 
Whenever possible, avoid sharing your drug use supplies: If you have to share a pipe, wipe down glass or metal materials with alcohol and allow to dry completely before rinsing and re-using.

Keys, straws and other snorting supplies also pose a heightened risk of causing infection because mucus membranes in your nasal passage are one way viruses enter your system. Using your own supplies will prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Flushing your nose with saline and alternating nostrils can help give your nasal passages a break.

Masks ARE JUST ONE OF MANY HARM REDUCTION TOOLS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY RELY ON wearing masks AS Covid-19 PREVENTION.

Think about these questions when going out or spending time with others indoors…

  • Am I feeling sick?

    • If you are feeling unwell, stay home! Even if you don’t have Covid, you can still spread other respiratory diseases. Wear a high-quality mask like a KN95 or KF95 if you must be around others at home and in public.

    • Will there be good airflow?

      • A fan is good, opening a window is better. Getting fresh air from outside helps keep virus particles from accumulating inside.

    • Are Covid infection rates high in my area?

      • Your risk can be higher or lower depending on how much the virus is circulating in your community. You can check Covid rates Here.

    • Can we take rapid tests?

      • Free at home tests through the mail were paused because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests but as of 12/15/22 you can go to https://www.covid.gov/tests to request 4 be mailed to you. Testing before gathering can help prevent everyone getting sick from an event or get together.

  • Importantly, consider your personal risk level…

    • If you are immunocompromised, a smoker, have diabetes or have any other pre-existing conditions your risk of catching Covid is higher than others.

      If the risk is high, ask others to test, mask, and open a window. Ask yourself if the outing is worth getting sick. It may be! Everyone’s acceptable risk level is different, but only by knowing the risk can you make informed decisions.

I DOn’t want to use alone but I’m worried about catching covid.

Naloxone will reverse an opioid overdose, but only if someone is there to administer it. Taking precautions in your day-to-day life with others can help reduce the risk of getting sick when you spend time together. Talk to your friends about Covid safety so you can be there for each other when it matters. Rescue breaths are essential and using a CPR shield helps prevent disease transmission when performing rescue breathing. Click here to find out how to get naloxone from NEXT.

 

What kind of mask should i use?

Not all masks provide the same kind of protection. 

  • These times are estimates. The longer you spend sharing air the more likely it is to transmit an air-borne virus. 

  • Some variants of Covid are more infectious than others.

  • One-way masking helps, but everyone masked is best to avoid transmission.

  • Staying up-to-date on your Covid boosters lowers your risk of infection.

 

Do you have a question or myth? Send it to info@nextdistro.org and we’ll answer it there!

Living a healthy lifestyle won’t prevent you from catching Covid, but it can help you get better faster.

Drug use can impact your ability to fight off infections because using certain drugs can impact your immune system. This includes drugs like cocaine or alcohol, but also some steroids or cancer fighting medications. You can mitigate this effect by eating healthy food regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and even reducing stress through meditating.

How Sick Is Too Sick?

If you are experiencing difficulty breathing, blue tinged fingers or lips, or feeling confused, your body may not be getting enough oxygen. You can use an at-home pulse oximeter to get an idea of how much oxygen is getting to your blood stream. If your pulse ox number is below 90% you should strongly consider getting medical attention. Lack of oxygen can lead to organs shutting down and even brain death. Note: Pulse oximetry results may not be as accurate for people with darker skin.

Staying hydrated while you are sick is important. If you can’t keep down water and other fluids, you can use ice cubes or popsicles (low or no sugar) to keep yourself from becoming dehydrated.

Doing drugs while sick may make your symptoms worse, but not doing drugs might not be an option for you. Consider edibles instead of smoking, or boofing instead of snorting to give your lungs and nasal passages a break. Different routes of administration can affect how high you get and for how long, so be sure to start slow and listen to your body.

Isolating at home and can’t get to the needle exchange?

Mail-order through NEXT Harm Reduction: If you are a person who uses drugs and you do not live near a syringe exchange program, please visit nextdistro.org/getnext to learn if you are eligible for one of our free full service mail-based programs.

6 Things to Know About the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration

Testing and COVID treatment

  • People with traditional Medicare will no longer be guaranteed free, at-home tests, but some insurers may continue to voluntarily cover them. For those on Medicaid, at-home tests will be covered at no-cost through September 2024. After that date, home test coverage will vary by state

  • People with public coverage may start to face new cost-sharing for pharmaceutical COVID treatments

Some flexibilities with telehealth will end

  • Providers writing prescriptions for controlled substances such as buprenorphine and benzodiazapines were allowed to do so via telemedicine, but in-person visits will be required after May 11

  • Millions of patients, including many veterans, who rely on telehealth may suddenly be unable to access critical clinical services and medications. The most acutely impacted would be individuals with behavioral health needs and rural patients

  • All states and D.C. temporarily waived some aspects of state licensure requirements so that providers with equivalent licenses in other states could practice remotely via telehealth. This benefit may end unless those states change their policy

Uninsured people may have to pay commercial prices for vaccines and boosters

  • Pfizer and Moderna have already announced vaccines will likely be between $82 and $130 per dose – about three to four times what the federal government has paid

  • Pfizer and Moderna have signaled likely ranges that are three to four times greater than the pre-purchased federal price for the bivalent booster

  • Biden Administration intends to fund a program which will include a partnership with pharmacy chains to help cover the cost for vaccines after they are made commercial later this year

Hospitals lose the 20% increase in Medicare’s payment rate for treating Covid-19 patients that is necessary to support better, safer and more patient-centered care

  • This will cause significant changes in payment for many COVID-19 related services

  • Hospitals’ ability to use expansion sites for the care of COVID-19 patients or to keep non-COVID positive patients isolated will be reduced

  • Regulatory requirements that were waived to ease burdens on the health care system allowing staff to focus on caring for COVID-19 patients will return, reducing the capacity for COVID-related care

Vaccine requirements for federal workers/ contractors, and foreign air travelers to the U.S. will end

  • Vaccinations helped dramatically decrease deaths and hospitalizations from COVID. The vaccines still help in reducing the chances of hospitalization and death

What is something you can do to prepare?

  • The site to order Covid-19 test kits is still up and running, with four free tests available to any household that hasn’t ordered since December

  • If you’ve been enrolled in Medicaid since 2020, call/check-in to see if you need to reapply

  • There’s still time to receive a vaccine or booster dose if you haven’t already done so, or are eligible for a second dose

  • If you are receiving telehealth services and have not had an in-person visit with your provider, review the proposed and accepted PHE safeguards by the DEA to see if your healthcare will be impacted by these rollbacks

The public health emergency may be over but Covid is not over. Continue to take additional prevention precautions whenever you can. There have been disproportionate health and socio-economic impacts on disabled people, including those who may not have had disabilities previously who now live with long-COVID. Preventative measures and ongoing efforts for collective access, communal support, and solidarity are still necessary.