The Search for Substance Abuse Recovery Amidst COVID-19
COVID-19 is a public health crisis affecting millions worldwide. What is interests me is delving deeper into COVID-19 and its effects and learning that a person does not have to suffer from the disease to be directly impacted by it. When looking at the Americans who, before COVID-19 started, were suffering from and being treated for a substance abuse illness, this notion comes to light. Not only that, but people who did not suffer from a substance abuse disorder before COVID-19, but then due to the stress, financial instability, or mental strain of this global pandemic, began using drugs or alcohol to cope with this, there is a huge increase in the population of people needing recovery services. The question is, which way does one turn to find recovery services?
The Health Risks
I am interested in this topic because I have personally been impacted by substance abuse, I lost a friend to addiction, I have a family member who is an addict, and I have been sober for three years now. When reflecting on the need for access to recovery meetings and a recovery community for those who are in recovery, I began to wonder how individuals would maintain their sobriety during a pandemic where staying home is so pertinent to health, especially for individuals in recovery. Individuals with current or past substance abuse are at a higher risk for suffering from the more serious symptoms of COVID-19. Current and past smokers are at a higher risk for respiratory problems and lung damage and opioid users are at a higher risk to suffer from breathing problems due to less oxygen in the blood stream (NIDA, 2020). For these reasons, current and past users of alcohol and other drugs should be even more cautious when navigating their communities and the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Increase in Drug Use and Isolation
I also reflected on the prevalence of cooccurring mental health illnesses and substance use and thought about how I have seen my family member want to use more because of his anxiety and how my own depression and anxiety have been exacerbated during this pandemic. Surely, others were experiencing this too. After some research, I discovered that since stay at home orders were enacted across states, many individuals have suffered due to the isolation that was a result of these health precautions. Data has shown that overdoses, alcohol consumption, and death from overdoses has increased since the pandemic began. Across the United States reports of overdoses from substances have increased by 16% (Mann, 2020).
This increase in numbers is due to a variety of reasons. People were forced to isolate and are not able to access their support systems or communities that they need to help in their recovery process. The healthcare system for recovery services, organizations that held meetings, shelters that provided services to those that are homeless, and more shut down, are virtual, or only see a small amount of people per day (Johnson, 2020). Also, marginalized communities of color face even worse consequences because their healthcare systems were not prepared for the pandemic (Mann, 2020). Individuals in these communities are impacted more by the changes of the stay at home orders because their communities and healthcare agencies do not have the resources necessary to provide services safely during the pandemic.
The Services Available
So, is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Yes and no. Services have improved since the pandemic began. There are 24-hour helplines that people in need can call, there are 24-hour Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings going on nationwide virtually and some meetings have begun to resume in person at smaller capacities. App and social media users can also find groups to join where they can connect with other individuals who are also in recovery. The government also put into place laws so that medications for those in recovery could be prescribed via telehealth appointments, over the phone or over video chat, rather than in person and these medications can be prescribed in larger quantities so that individuals do not have to get weekly prescriptions or go to a clinic (Clay, 2020).
On the other hand, the uncertainty of the pandemic has left many providers seeing the nonlinearity of substance abuse illnesses in the populations they serve increase. Many are in recovery, doing well for a bit, but relapse and then go back into recovery again. Amongst those in recovery or wanting to recover, the implication of the COVID-19 pandemic is not just quarantining or trying to not get sick, it is also the feeling of isolation, disconnect from the recovery community, and the struggle to find and access the mentioned services.
What Can Social Workers Do?
For this reason, social workers have a critical role to play and social justices to fight for. Services need to still be accessible in person for those that need them, and electronic devices should be provided for those that cannot leave their homes. Providers need to be compassionate, understanding, and ethical while advocating for their clients who may not be able to advocate for themselves (Banks et al., 2020). Social workers should use harm reduction when treating individuals with a substance abuse illness, so that if clients are using, social workers are helping them to stay safe (Clay, 2020). Finally, individuals need to be made aware of the virtual and community recovery resources available to them and they need to be cared for and protected, especially those in communities of color whose resources are scarcer. It is clear that in regard to accessing and providing care social workers must find solutions while being ethical, yet keep in mind the struggles that many of their clients are going through at this time, especially those in recovery.
My Final Thoughts
Check in with your friends and family, check in with yourself, and do not be afraid to ask for help. Recovery is a journey of ups and downs and during this pandemic it feels like there are less ups. Be compassionate with yourself and keep fighting, recovery is possible.
~ Madelene Neary
Recovery Resources:
SAMHSA’s National Helpline– 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances- 1-833-2FINDHELP
Suicide Prevention Lifeline- 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Virtual Narcotics Anonymous Meetings
Virtual Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
In the Rooms (AA, NA and other virtual meetings)
SMART Recovery Website (Meetings and 24/7 Chat)
Weekly Support Meeting for Parents and Caregivers
10 Apps to Download to Support Recovery
References
Clay, R. A. (2020, April 15). Advice for treating and preventing substance use during COVID-19. http://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/substance-use
Banks, S., Cai, T., de Jonge, E., Shears, J., Shum, M., Sobočan, A. M., Strom, K., Truell, R., Úriz, M. J., & Weinberg, M. (2020). Practising ethically during COVID-19: Social work challenges and responses. International Social Work, 63(5), 569–583. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872820949614
Johnson, S. R. (2020). The challenge of treating addiction during the COVID-19 outbreak. Modern Healthcare, 50(15), 12.
Mann, B. (2020, August 13). U.S. Sees Deadly Drug Overdose Spike During Pandemic. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/08/13/901627189/u-s-sees-deadly-drug-overdose-spike-during-pandemic
NIDA. (2020, April 6.) COVID-19: Potential Implications for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders. https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2020/04/covid-19-potential-implications-individuals-substance-use-disorders
As someone who has done some pretty extensive research on substance abuse and completed an ecological analysis on the impacts is has across the continuum I could not thank you for covering such a topic. It is crazy that it slipped my mind about how this global pandemic could also be impacting those with substance abuse and alcohol issues. I also really enjoyed reading your recommendations for social workers. This one line was very powerful to me "Providers need to be compassionate, understanding, and ethical while advocating for their clients who may not be able to advocate for themselves" this is something I could not stress this more for everyone and not just professionals. - Xesenia
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! After watching Chasing Heroine I got a little more understanding about what living with an addiction entails. I did not know how many negative health outcomes were associated with addictions, nor had I pondered how isolating and emotionally damaging it could be. People lose their family, friends, homes, and many other things. In the midst of a pandemic, with shelters closing, people isolating, grief rampant, and local supports and resources shutting down I can only imagine how much greater the obstacles are for persons battling addiction. I agree that harm reduction is key, and that as social workers it is important to explore how to reduce harm and risk for people with addiction during COVID-19.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you.
ReplyDeleteYour post was very informative and I am in appreciation of the resources your provided at the end of your post.
It does not look like the pandemic is going away anytime soon and the continue isolation and lack of human interaction will probably continue to remain prominent. However, I think human innovation is at its highest of creativity, and I can only hope that we are doing what you suggested at the very end, and checking in on friends, families, neighbors, and I would even add strangers on to this list. Who knows who can benefit from or is need of human empathy and compassion.