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“People with substance abuse disorders were the victims of an epidemic and now we have an epidemic amid a pandemic. I worry although we’re delivering a lot of treatment by phone, Zoom, and FaceTime there really is no substitute for face-to-face encounters with the care of an individual a lot of programs are limiting admissions for new patients in part because there is a problem getting person protection equipment like masks and gloves.”

Pandemic’s impact on people battling addiction and their ability to seek treatment

The coronavirus pandemic is impacting everyone including individuals battling addiction. ABC7 News spoke with Dr. Kenneth Stoller to discuss clinical and provider measures being used to care for substance abuse disorder patients during the coronavirus crisis. Stoller is the director of the Johns Hop…

Chronic pain patients may be more susceptible to COVID-19, and if infected with the virus, may face different consequences than others.  https://www.medpagetoday.com/clinical-challenges/pain-management/85857

Clinical Challenge: Chronic Pain and COVID-19

Pain patients may be hit harder than others

“Opioid medications bind to the areas of the brain that control pain and emotions driving up feelings of the feel good hormone dopamine in the brain’s rewards areas and producing an intense feeling of Euphoria.”
https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/18/health/opioid-crisis-fast-facts/index.html

Opioid Crisis Fast Facts

Read CNN’s Fast Facts about the opioid crisis and learn about the epidemic of addiction to painkillers.

Those suffering from opioid use disorders shouldn’t be overlooked during this pandemic. Patients with substance use disorders face multiple challenges aside from being able to gain access to the medications that are necessary for their treatment. These challenges include poverty, lack of access to affordable housing, and symptoms from other chronic health conditions.

Addicted Michigan: Surge in alcohol sales sparks concern among addiction experts

Data from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission reveals alcohol sales increased by 55% during the last week of March 2020 compared to the same week in March 2019. West Michigan addiction experts said the numbers are concerning. Tiffany Lee, director of Western Michigan University’s alcohol an…

“The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders”.

It is crucial to recognize these rising statistics and encourage those suffering to get the help they need to recover.

The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use

This brief examines the implications of coronavirus-related social distancing practices and the current financial crisis on mental health, including challenges to accessing mental health or substan…

Suspected overdoses nationally jumped 18 percent in March, 29 percent in April and 42 percent in May, data from ambulance teams, hospitals and police shows.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/07/01/coronavirus-drug-overdose/

87% of people who are unemployed are more likely to use alcohol heavily and are 29% more likely to become dependent on alcohol. 65% of people who are unemployed are more likely to resort to drug use and 57% more likely to become dependent on the drugs. Even for those recovering from alcohol or substance abuse, a job loss could be a trigger for those to relapse. Regardless of unemployment and the negative effects associated with job loss, there are always places that can help.

https://www.nwherald.com/2020/04/20/substance-abuse-recovery-providers-continue-to-offer-services-amid-covid-19-shutdown/a21b1ad

There are a number of potential dangers of COVID-19 for those with substance abuse disorders. It is imperative to understand the many options for staying on track during this time in order to hinder the spike of re-occurring substance abuse in patients.

Recovering from substance abuse during the COVID-19 crisis

After the last few weeks, you’ve likely heard someone say that the coronavirus doesn’t discriminate. Neither does substance abuse. Although genetics and environment play a significant role in determining who develops a substance use disorder, many different people of all ages can develop the habit o…