Wolf Summarizes Study on COVID-19 Distancing Restrictions, Drug Overdoses on Academic Minute

August 5, 2024

Academic Minute

Douglas A. Wolf

Public Administration & International Affairs Department

Aging Studies Institute

Center for Aging and Policy Studies

Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health

Addiction

COVID-19

State & Local

U.S. Health Policy

United States

Academic Minute

Douglas A. Wolf

Social distancing was key in reducing COVID deaths, but it came with consequences. Douglas Wolf, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs, recently co-authored a study that found these measures contributed to increases in drug overdoses.

The study, “States’ COVID-19 Restrictions were Associated with Increases in Drug Overdose Deaths in 2020,” was published in the American Journal of Public Health. Shannon Monnat, professor of sociology and Lerner Chair for Public Health Promotion and Population Health, University Professor Jennifer Karas Montez, and Emily Wiemers, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, were co-authors of the study.

Wolf summarizes the findings on the Academic Minute.