At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Times described the crisis as a “national relapse trigger.” Many experts on addiction and mental health in countries around the world issued stark warnings on the effects lockdown, stress, economic uncertainty, and social isolation would have on addiction and mental illness. Six months later, the data on how the pandemic has actually influenced people suffering from opioid addiction is starting to trickle in. The results are predictably bleak.
1) Overdose Deaths
While governments track the death toll wrought by the virus in real time, there are no such mechanisms for reporting, recording, and publicising the deaths of opioid users in a timely manner. As many health professionals have passionately argued, the 24 month lag between overdose deaths and reliable statistical reporting on them is something between a tragedy and a farce. The lack of timely and accurate data makes it extremely difficult for the public to gain a realistic idea of the extent of the opioid epidemic, and to put pressure on politicians and public health officials to stem the tide of overdose deaths.
We don’t have reliable figures for the past six months, but we do know that over 30 American states have reported increases in opioid related fatalities. In Baltimore and Washington DC region, a study found that overdose deaths had increased by almost 18% between March and June. Dr. Gary Moeller, has seen a 1000% increase in overdoses during the pandemic at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital. “We’re now up to over 60 a month” he reports. The American National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) admits that overdose numbers are up, but with coroners and labs overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, they admit that we might not get an accurate tally on overdose deaths in 2020 no matter how long we wait.
British Columbia, Canada, is a region where health authorities are tracking overdoses and releasing statistics in a timely manner. The rate of fatal overdoses in the province has more than doubled, from approximately 75 per month in the months before COVID to approximately 175 during the summer of 2020. Many Canadians are drawing attention to the lack of attention paid to the opioid crisis, advocating for a safe supply of drugs for addicts, and pushing for legalization and increased harm reduction. But in the meantime, the numbers keep climbing.
2) Increased Drug Use
Much was made at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic of the sharp spike in alcohol sales as lockdowns began. We can only assume that added stress, isolation, and economic uncertainty drove many addicts, and people in recovery, to resort to opioid use in response. Millennium Health, a company which provides urinalysis in the United States, found a 32% increase in the number of tests positive for non-prescribed fentanyl in a sample of 500,000 urine tests taken between March and July. While other drugs such as cocaine (10%), heroin (12%), and methamphetamine (20%) showed spikes, the fact that the deadliest substance available is growing more popular and more prevalent in the drug supply is deeply disturbing.
3) Economic Uncertainty
The communities hardest hit by the opioid crisis have generally been poor and rural. The so-called rust belt, and relatively underdeveloped states like West Virginia generally have higher rates of abuse, addiction, and overdose than rich coastal cities. As Dr. Nora Volkow, head of NIDA, notes, “uncertainties, loss of jobs, and decreasing support systems: All of these actually are known risk factors for increasing drug use and for people that are in recovery for relapse.” With over 20 million American workers losing their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis, the population of those at risk has ballooned this year, and with unemployment expected to hover around 10% in the US, 8% in the UK, and 7% in the EU, there are millions faced with personal financial crises. The young are especially hard hit by joblessness, which compounds their already increased risk of addiction.
4) Mental Health And Dual Diagnosis
Addiction is especially difficult to treat or recover from when it is accompanied by a mental illness. And the COVID-19 crisis has caused or exacerbated mental distress for billions of people around the globe. One survey found that half of all Americans were suffering from pandemic related mental health issues, including trouble sleeping, difficulty focusing, increased conflicts with loved ones, and loss of pleasure in formerly enjoyable activities. It was also reported that calls to hotlines related to emotional distress, suicide prevention, and crisis management have increased by 1000% over the past six months! Taking control of one’s mental health, coping with stress, and maintaining connections with others are extremely important factors for those in recovery, and vitally important for people with a dual diagnosis. The pandemic has increased challenges and exacerbated anxieties, driving many to relapse.
John Kelly, director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital sums up the challenge well: “Someone trying to recover from a substance use disorder has a physiological hypersensitivity to stress due to the effects of the substance on their central nervous system. “They’re just more easily stressed than other people. In addition, chronically exposing the brain to drugs like opioids decreases a person’s ability to experience normal levels of rewards. Reduced enjoyment combined with stress and isolation can really take people back over the edge into active problem use.”
5) Disrupted Treatment
Much has been made of teletherapy and online peer support meetings during the pandemic. But these strategies have shortcomings even as they increase access to treatment. Building trust and connection is incredibly important for those dealing with addiction and its related stigmas. And face-to-face interactions are essential for establishing trust. There is also the fact that many marginalized addiction sufferers don’t have easy access to computers and the internet.
Even for those able to access residential treatment during the pandemic, social distancing guidelines and mask wearing regulations can make it harder to establish connections with therapists and peers.
The COVID-19 crisis has created a host of barriers to treatment, while dramatically increasing the risk of adverse consequences for those affected by the pandemic of opioid abuse. While one public health crisis has been met with a concerted and well-funded response by governments and health authorities, the other has been quietly killing thousands around the globe. At Tabula Rasa Retreat we are committed to ending the opioid crisis, utilizing ibogaine treatment, holistic therapy, and a host of other methods. There has never been a more dangerous time to use opioids, and there has never been a better time to end your addiction. If you need help, reach out to us today!
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530
