COVID and Addiction Rates

COVID-19 & Rates of Addiction

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 percent of Americans have reported an increase in substance use since June 2020 due to heightened stress levels and emotional distress directly related to the pandemic. Rates of drug-related overdose have also been on the rise. The American Medical Association reports 40 states have seen an increase in opioid-related overdose deaths, and ODMAP, a commonly employed Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program, suggests drug overdose deaths have increased by roughly 18 percent since around this time last year. Researchers have observed that people are generally using drugs more frequently and in greater quantities since the pandemic began.

Many people have also transitioned from one chemical substance to another, seeing as some drugs have become more difficult to obtain. Of course, because in-person interviewing and data collection has also become more difficult, tracking the exact number of Americans who regularly engage in drug use is no small feat. One thing is for certain, however: drug addiction rates are on the rise, and people are in need of accessible addiction treatment options. At Guardian Recovery we strive to keep our treatment services as accessible as possible to people of all ages and in all demographics, while consistently prioritizing their health and safety. If you would like to learn more about the COVID-19 related safety precautions we have been taking or if you would like to get started with our simple and straightforward admissions process, contact us today.

The Relationship Between COVID-19 & Addiction

While the COVID-19 pandemic can be held partially accountable for the nationwide increase in drug addiction, it is important to acknowledge addiction rates have been on the rise for quite some time. Over the course of the past decade rates of heroin abuse, addiction and overdose have been steadily increasing, and as new, designer drugs are being constantly introduced to the market the health-related consequences of drug addiction grow more and more severe. However, there is a distinct and undeniable relationship between COVID-19 and addiction.

Links Between Addiction & COVID-19:

• Shifts in drug availability might be partially responsible for the dramatic increase in drug overdose deaths – If a person or drug dealer can’t obtain pure heroin, they might reach for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid which is exceptionally more potent. Fentanyl has been linked to the vast majority of recent overdose-related deaths.
• People have been experiencing unprecedented stress levels and extreme loneliness, both of which can lead to substance use – Many psychiatric professionals agree that COVID-19-related stressors and social isolation can be linked to many new and worsening cases of drug addiction.
• As stress levels skyrocket, people are also being faced with fewer healthy ways to cope with these stress levels – Many people turn to regular social interactions as a healthy way to deal with stress. They might meet up with their friends for lunch and vent about a frustrating work-related situation, or go on a jog with a friend every morning and talk over coffee afterwards. People have limited access to a range of physical activities which may have previously helped them work through stress.
• The rise in drug overdose deaths is also partially linked to social isolation – People who overdose on a drug often do so alone in their own homes; if there is no one present to call for emergency first responders or to administer Narcan, these overdoses can be fatal. Some community clinics and recovery foundations have also limited their services because of COVID-19.

Healthcare systems have been overwhelmed since cases started escalating in the U.S. People who relied on state-funded detox facilities or on receiving addiction treatment in a hospital setting found it more difficult to access the services they required. At Guardian Recovery our doors have remained open since the start of the pandemic, and they will continue to stay open indefinitely. We provide a range of essential healthcare services, including medically monitored detox, medication assisted treatment options, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, residential inpatient treatment and aftercare planning. To learn more about the services we provide or to begin the admissions process to any level of clinical care you or your loved one needs, contact us today.