After reading some postings on our Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center site, a
reader and his team offered us the opportunity of re-posting the following
article:
https://detoxofsouthflorida.com/drug-and-alcohol-addiction-during-a-pandemic/.
INTRODUCTION
Drug and Alcohol Addiction During a Pandemic: COVID-19 pandemic has
hit differently compared to many other epidemics that have occurred before. It
will get marked in history as an era of pain, anxiety, panic, and depression. In
case we survive this pandemic as we pray and hope for the very best, the world
will be all changed. This pandemic has impacted the restriction of social
gatherings, thus no attending the churches, schools got closed, businesses are
dissolving every day. And each new day there is an introduction to more and more
restrictions which are stricter than the previous ones. This pandemic has even
turned the economy upside down. Social distancing means sometimes we do not have
to be close to our loved ones like before, It also means people are not even
attending their jobs hence financially disabled.
Research says many people may
turn into abusing drugs, also let’s only consider the rates of people who have
lost their jobs in the United States currently. After the pandemic, we may face
addiction more than even the economic crisis. Just like the coronavirus has
affected the world both socially and financially also, it has changed the domain
of recovery and addiction. The wave of anxiety and fear that is wafting during
this pandemic has contributed to a lot of individuals holding back from
continuing or seeking addiction treatment and therapies.
EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON
THE ADDICT BODY
Generally. addiction affects the body of the user in various
means, it weakens the immune system and also alters the functioning of the inner
organs. For example, the long term and frequent use of alcohol cause
inflammation, pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, fibrosis, alcohol hepatitis and
it’s known for causing various types of cancer and brain damage. These health
conditions which are brought by alcohol causes the user to be more vulnerable to
the COVID -19 symptoms.
Prolonged abuse of opioids such as heroin, fentanyl,
codeine, and hydrocodone causes pulmonary and respiratory complications. Smoking
of drugs such as marijuana or tobacco drastically weakens the lungs thus putting
long term smokers into a risk of being profoundly affected by the coronavirus.
According to the research from the national institute on drug abuse, they
reported individuals with substance use disorder and smoker’s coronavirus is a
significant threat to them. When COVID-19 infects an individual. It begins with
weakening the cells on the lining of the lungs.
Thus the pre-symptoms of
coronavirus are fever, headache, fatigue, and dry cough, shortness of breath and
muscle pain. The symptoms get more severe after the infection reaches the lower
respiratory tract. An individual who has a healthy immune system may be able to
recover from the virus when it’s in the upper respiratory tract. However,
coronavirus may cause severe impacts in the body such as pneumonia, and
bronchitis, in more severe instances which is rare COVID-19 may cause acute
respiratory distress syndrome. A healthy individual can fully recover from
COVID-19 however if an individual has health complications such as chronic
diseases, pulmonary abnormalities then they are at a high risk of not improving
or more vulnerable to get severe illness.
CORONA VIRUS IMPACTS TO INDIVIDUALS
WITH MENTAL HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.
Before I even jump into the effects of COVID-19 to mental health patients, let me point out that mental health and substance
abuse are closely linked. Thus approximately fifty percent of individuals with
mental disorders are as a result of prolonged use abuse of substances.
When an
individual has substance abuse disorder and mental health issues. the condition
is referred to as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder. Basing this
conclusion on research, most individual’s abuse drugs to calm down and cope with
their mental health. Some individuals confess that after using alcohol. smoking
or other drugs, they get temporary relief from anxiety and stress, and they go
in the state of nirvana ‘as they say. Fifty-three percent of substance abusers
are said to have severe mental disorders, however, thanks to the rehabilitation
centers, which offer services of treating the co-occurring condition. Actually,
with the increased tensions and stress on the coronavirus, it’s the best time to
seek treatment.
The increase of COVID 19 pressure may lead to worry and fear of
loved one’s health and individual’s health Changes in eating and sleeping
patterns more use of tobacco. alcohol and other drugs.
Therefore individuals
with mental disorders, should continue receiving treatment and pay attention to
worsening or new symptoms. WHO has requested people to limit news about
coronavirus, which may cause more anxiety and instead get information from the
trusted sources. WHO recommends the caregivers, media experts, doctors and first
responders to the COVID 19 patients that in the process they may experience
emotional toll and develop secondary traumatic stress. Thus in case, they
experience fear, social withdrawal, illness, fatigue or guilt they should pull
away from the media and allow themselves time for self-care to unwind.
ACCESSING
TO ABUSE TREATMENT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC. With the environment surrounding
this pandemic such as the social distance, risk of substance use may increase,
due to stress, isolation, and anxiety caused by COVID19. Therefore the addiction
treatment should remain accessible.
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
This program is for
individuals with a mild addiction, they attend rehab during the day, but they go
home. Upon arrival, they are screened for Covid-19 symptoms, in case they test
positive they are isolated, and a telehealth treatment plan gets initiated. The
patients who don’t have Covid-19 symptoms continue or begin addiction treatment
while observing physical distance and sanitation.
VIRTUAL 12-STEP MEETINGS
This
is a crucial stage for individuals who are in the recovery stage of drug abuse
disorder such as the narcotics anonymous and alcoholics anonymous. These
meetings currently have stipulated measures such as physical distancing, and
sanitary precautions, thus individuals no longer shake or hold hands and
hugging. The 12 step meetings are still available through most individuals are
afraid of attending them.