Document Type
Article
Author ORCID Identifier
Dorothy Wallis https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9627-1558
Journal/Book Title/Conference
COVID
Volume
6
Issue
3
Publisher
MDPI AG
Publication Date
2-25-2026
Journal Article Version
Version of Record
First Page
1
Last Page
20
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Abstract
Treatment seeking among individuals who misuse substances can be a complex process, with many factors contributing to treatment seeking. Guided by Gelberg–Andersen’s Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, this research seeks to establish predisposing, enabling, and need factors contributing to treatment seeking during COVID-19. A total of 201 individuals participated in the study. Contrary to existing literature, no predisposing factors were associated with treatment seeking during COVID-19. However, variations were seen in enabling and need factors. Perceiving a need for treatment and having reliable transportation to treatment were associated with treatment seeking during COVID-19, underlying the importance of addressing both physical barriers to treatment and readiness for treatment. Additional enabling factors contributing to treatment seeking were a history of past treatment and differing types of recovery supports, underscoring the importance of addressing structural access barriers and individual-level determinants of treatment seeking. More research is needed on individual differences in perception of need that lead to treatment seeking.
Recommended Citation
Wallis, D. Factors Associated with Substance Use Treatment Seeking During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Applying the Gelberg–Andersen Model for Vulnerable Populations. COVID 2026, 6, 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/covid6030033