Tag: covid 19 and drug addiction

How Has COVID Affected Opioid Addiction?

While the world is busy battling the COVID-19 pandemic, another silent killer is the opioid epidemic. Opioid was introduced to the market as a painkiller. Doctors were hopeful that there would be no addiction to it. Over the years, however, it is one of the most abused prescriptions drugs in America. The manufacture and sale of these drugs under wraps have led to an opioid crisis in the world. Many opioid addiction treatment centers like Enlightened Solutions have been started in a bid to tackle the crisis. There was a good number of people in recovery. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, things went from good to bad.

How COVID-19 Affected Opioid Addicts

At the onset of the pandemic, many opioid abuse treatment centers had to be closed to prevent the further spread of the virus. While it helped control the virus spread, it brought another issue – drug use was rising. Here are some of the reasons why there have been reports of increased drug use during this past year.

• Self-isolation – self-isolation might be suitable for the prevention of COVID-19 spread. It is in no way helpful to an addict. Being alone in a house or room without any physical contact means one will have to get something to pass the time. For a recovering addict, it is easy for one to slip back into their old habits.
• Lack of a home recovery program – in the initial stages of recovery, it is recommended that an addict stays at an opioid addiction treatment facility to be monitored. The withdrawal phase is the most complex stage, and even though opioids do not cause physical pain, they can get uncomfortable. Having someone monitor a patient as they go through detox for opioid addiction is vital to their recovery. Since there are restrictions in these facilities, many patients could not deal with the withdrawal symptoms. They often end up reusing the drug. There was also no detox for opioid addiction program rolled out for patients that could help when the patient is at home.
• High-stress levels – the pandemic brought a myriad of stress factors that many people could not deal with. Most people have lost their jobs, been cut off from family, and do not have anything else to do. Many of the opioid users are casual laborers. There has been a reduction of work from casual workers worldwide. The entire thing was stressful to deal with, and as such, it is common for addicts to resort to their old ways. There is no one to monitor them and, slipping into serious addiction is almost paramount.

Impact of Opioids During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The one thing that can be noticed with the pandemic is an increased number of people overdosing on opioids. These overdoses are getting worse since many of the users are in self-isolation. The fact that Narcan drug is not easily available puts such a person’s life at risk.

Medical institutions also noticed a drop in the number of patients they received for rehabilitation. Running an opioid abuse treatment center needs a lot of money, and when the money is not coming in, these rehabilitation centers might close down. The policies on rehabilitation centers had been tightened to reduce COVID-19 infection, but the government is looking into this. It will go a long way to ensure that any opioid addict can check into a facility like Enlightened Solutions to get the help they need.

What to Do If You Need Help

Times have changed, and things might not work the way they used to before the pandemic. Despite all this, there is hope for you. You can still get the help you need if you put thought into it. Reach out to any opioid addiction treatment facility like Enlightened Solutions and ask to speak to a professional. Most of the facilities have a professional on call at any time of the day or night. They will talk you through your addiction and figure out whether or not you need to check into the rehab. You might have to do the COVID-19 test before you go in.

You can get into detox for Opioid Addiction program, which allows you to flush the drugs out of your system before starting your journey to recovery. Self-detox is a hard thing to do, and often you end up so weak and tempted to go back to the drugs. Checking into the Enlightened Solutions will ensure that you have someone who will monitor you all the time. A team of doctors and nurses works around the clock to help you go through the program without significant difficulties. They also monitor and advise you on what you should do if there are any changes.

Enlightened Solutions Opioid Addiction Treatment

At Enlightened Solutions, we are dedicated to helping you walk into your healing and drug-free life. We have a team of professionals. They will help you go through the healing journey and deal with all the issues causing a relapse for you. You can contact us today and book an appointment. We have top-notch specialists to find a way through which you can get help. We have a simple admission process. You can check in online before physically coming into the facility.

Our treatment process follows the 12-step approach with added holistic treatment. We have art therapy, music therapy, and yoga to help with the healing process. We also look out for your biological, mental, and social well-being. We ensure that you can easily integrate back into the community. You can reach out to us today and get started on your recovery journey. We will walk with you on your opioid abuse treatment journey and ensure you get out of the program with the right tools to face the real world.