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Addressing the Opioid Crisis through Social Determinants of Health: What Are Communities Doing?

The Brandeis Opioid Resource Connector has published its first issue brief, titled “Addressing the Opioid Crisis through Social Determinants of Health: What Are Communities Doing?”

The brief focuses on employment, housing and education, the roles that those domains play in opioid-related outcomes, and program models related to each that are being implemented in communities across the U.S.

In the brief’s introduction, its authors note that social determinants, which include socioeconomic factors, environmental factors and health behaviors, “are responsible for 80% to 90% of health outcomes, and are especially important in behavioral health outcomes. It is therefore critical to pursue community-based solutions outside the healthcare and addiction treatment system, as well as within it, to respond effectively to the opioid crisis.”

The report notes that disparities have been exacerbated during the pandemic, with one study finding that COVID-19 exposure is 8.7 times more likely for individuals with substance use disorders, and another study finding that SUD patients face increased risk for hospitalization, ventilator use and mortality.

Initiatives across the country are being launched to address these challenges, and the brief goes on to showcase several models, including:

• State- and employer-led programs to address employment
• Housing issues
• Education for adolescents, young adults and individuals post-incarceration

Three additional programs that tackle multiple social determinants of health are also showcased.

The full brief is now available for download on the Opioid Resource Connector website.