Tag: opioid overdose crisis

How COVID-19 Changed Drug Availability: Shortages, Overdoses, and Systemic Gaps

• February 12, 2026
• Kiera Masterson

COVID-19 exposed deep flaws in drug supply chains, causing critical medication shortages and a deadly surge in fentanyl-contaminated street drugs. While telehealth helped some, many were left behind as overdose deaths soared.