When Access Was Interrupted: Drug Access, Treatment Disruption and Lived Experiences during COVID-19 in Darjeeling

When the COVID-19 lockdown was implemented in India in March 2020, it disturbed not only mobility and transportation but also access to healthcare services and social interactions. Access to drugs, treatment and rehabilitation for people who use drugs (PWUD) were all impacted by these disturbances. The objective of the study was to explore how COVID-19 lockdown restrictions had affected drug access, mobility, help-seeking and access to treatment and rehabilitation among PWUD in Darjeeling. An explorative qualitative approach was utilized. In March 2021, five retrospective interviews with adults who had firsthand knowledge of drug use during the lockdown were carried out. Purposive selection of participants was achieved by continuous fieldwork. Through the interview changes in drug availability and access, mobility, withdrawal and craving, coping strategies, help-seeking, treatment and rehabilitation access were all examined. The findings show that restrictions on movement and transportation had disrupted participants’ usual ways of obtaining drugs and reduced their contact with suppliers. The participants also reported difficulties in their mental and physical health during withdrawal, which increased their need for support. At the same time, telephone-based counselling provided limited assistance, while access to residential rehabilitation and other treatment options remained restricted. The study highlights how access to drugs and access to treatment were simultaneously disrupted, resulting in what is described as a “double interruption of access.” Drawing on social capital as a supporting perspective, the study shows how mobility, social networks and local support systems shaped participants’ experiences. The findings show the importance of looking at both access to drugs and access to treatment when studying the social effects of public health emergencies.