Campus News

Watch ‘The Intersection of Two Pandemics: COVID-19 and Addiction’

Department of Population and Public Health Sciences July 23, 2020
Adam Leventhal and Rosalie Liccardo Pacula

On Thursday at 1 p.m., join Adam Leventhal, PhD, Director of the USC Institute for Addiction Science, and Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, PhD, Senior Fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center, for a discussion, “The Intersection of Two Pandemics: COVID-19 and Addiction.”

Their guest will be the 16th Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Brett P. Giroir, MD.

“Individuals who suffer from addiction may be especially vulnerable to serious complications if they contract COVID-19. Furthermore, the pandemic has caused unprecedented levels of stress and other life disruptions, which may exacerbate substance use disorders and interfere with individuals’ recovery. Policymakers are addressing barriers to care that individuals with substance use disorder are facing through innovative and flexible healthcare practices and other services. Join this discussion about how public health officials can mitigate the devastating effects of two intertwined pandemics — COVID-19 and addiction.”