Treatment / Understanding / Addiction During Covid-19
Understanding
COVID-19 in Number
Obtaining quantitative statistics from covid-19 is difficult due to the large number of people and regions
, leading to conflicting figures and data on the pandemic. The virus responsible for the covid-19 pandemic is known as SARS-CoV-2 and is closely related to another virus, SARS-CoV-1, which was last discovered at the outbreak in 2002. The 18-year-old made SARS-CoV-2 complex which traces the origin.
Current studies suggest that the virus originated in bats and was transmitted to humans via an unknown intermediate vector in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. In March 2020, the World Health Organization officially confirmed the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease that has turned into a global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

According to current data from the CDC, over 40.8 million confirmed cases of covid-19 and over 650,000 deaths have been reported in the United States. According to current CDC data, approximately 177,433,044 Americans had been fully vaccinated by September 9, 2021, or 53.4 percent of the country’s population.
Although widespread practice of social distancing, vaccination and other measures to control the spread of the disease leads to an initial reduction in the number of new cases, the number of re-infections has increased due to the emergence of a more contagious variant of the disease. virus .. A delta variant that quickly became the dominant strain in the United States.
Is the Rehabilitation Still Open?
Yes, drug detox centers will continue to function and take all necessary precautions to slow the spread of the virus among patients. Regular tests, guidelines for social distancing and ensuring adequate hygiene in centers are just some of the measures that most rehabilitation centers have taken just in time to slow down the spread of the virus.
Vaccination Policy for Rehabilitation
Although the current rehabilitation policy does not require vaccination of all patients, the CDC strongly recommends that all current drug addicts be vaccinated and that they recover. This is because they have been identified as a high-risk group for a more severe form of covid-19, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS. However, there is currently no clear national policy regulating vaccination and quarantine in drug rehabilitation centers.

Covid-19 Tests in Drug Withdrawal Treatment
Some drug rehabilitation centers offer testing services for covid-19. Although covid-19 tests are free at most health centers and some pharmacies, the instructions are a bit vague. In some areas and under certain conditions, covid-19 testing can cost $ 50 to $ 200, depending on factors such as the location, insurance, and facility where the tests were performed. A positive covid-19 test during rehabilitation may mean that the person must be temporarily isolated for further evaluation.
How Drug Rehabilitation Adapts to the Covid-19 Pandemic: Protecting Patients and Staff
The global pandemic affected everyone in our lives, so drug rehabilitation centers were no exception. They took various active measures to slow down the spread of the virus on their premises, to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals and patients, and finally sustainable ways to maintain a certain function during operations.
To prevent the spread of covid-19, each drug treatment center will perform a telephone screening before potential patients call. This helps reduce the time a person spends outdoors and prepares staff for each patient’s needs. Upon arrival, patients are asked about the symptoms of the coronavirus (cough, fever and nausea). In addition, drug rehabilitation visits provide visitors with protective equipment such as face masks, gloves, etc.
In addition, in accordance with the CDC guidelines for clinics, during the covid-19 pandemic, addiction treatment centers:
- Provide hand sanitizer, tissues and debris in the waiting room
- Place the chairs far enough apart to prevent the coronavirus from spreading
- Perform regular cleaning and disinfection in care facilities and ensure that patients do not use objects (such as magazines and books) in waiting rooms that may be contaminated with covid-19.
Remote Use of Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is an important drug in the treatment of drug addiction that should not be stopped abruptly. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, doctors can negotiate and print prescriptions by phone, Skype, FaceTime and other non-HIPAA resources. In addition, drug suppliers may allow refilling without personal visits to prevent the spread of covid-19.
Increased Availability of Naloxone
Naloxone can be crucial in dealing with addiction, especially during the covid-19 pandemic. It is a drug used to alleviate the effects of opiate overdose. Naloxone can immediately reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression and save a person’s life as long as it takes to go to the hospital or seek treatment for addiction. At present, patients can receive naloxone without a prescription in more and more pharmacies. Doctors can also prescribe electronic prescriptions for the medicine.
Telemedicine
In the context of the discussion, telemedicine refers to the provision of addiction treatment services that use communication technology to reduce the exposure of vulnerable patients to covid-19. During a pandemic, nationwide addiction calls and online dating can be crucial in stopping the coronary virus without affecting the quality of care for addicts. The pandemic will also offer patients better access to online AA meetings, e-prescriptions and telephone or chat consultations.
Support Groups Online
A large part of addiction treatment is about giving and receiving support to others who are struggling with the same problem. Unfortunately, during a coronavirus pandemic, the risks of face-to-face encounters outweigh the benefits in most cases. To prevent substance abuse from stopping due to the coronavirus, self-help groups have moved to the cloud. Many rehabilitation centers currently offer online NA meetings and group therapy sessions to support their patients during a covid-19 pandemic.
How has the Pandemic Affected Addiction?
An inevitable thing is that the covid-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives, even some unexpected areas such as drug addiction. For example, a CDC study reports an increase in the use of alcohol and illicit drugs, likely related to stress and increased isolation caused by a potentially life-threatening event due to social distance and closure of the majority of areas.
The same factors of anxiety and isolation may also have led individuals who have not previously experienced abuse to use psychoactive substances as a coping mechanism.
A major abuse is expected to be related to more cases of overdose. According to the CDC, the number of drug-related overdoses in the United States increased by about 31% last year.

Another problem is that the closure of borders has reduced the availability of certain addictive drugs, leading to addicts looking for new and potentially more dangerous ways to get high. According to the CDC, this has led to an increase in the use of less pure forms of certain psychoactive drugs and common street drugs. It also led them to actively look for these rare street drugs during the lockdown, which increased their chances of becoming infected and spreading the virus.
The last important issue that should be addressed is the link between substance abuse disorders and mental illness. The pandemic alone has not significantly questioned the ability of people with various mental health problems to get the help they need. The isolation, anxiety and hysteria experienced during this pandemic also caused new mental health problems, with 31% of adults reporting significant anxiety symptoms within months of the pandemic.
Why SUD Patients are at Greater Risk of Contracting the Coronavirus
Addiction treatment during a coronavirus pandemic is urgent because it can save people not only from a life-threatening drug addiction, but also from covid-19. Studies have shown that the virus is mainly targeted at the elderly population and those recovering from the disease. In particular, pre-existing respiratory diseases and a weakened immune system can jeopardize the serious consequences of Covid 19. In addition, people in need of drug treatment are more vulnerable because they are more likely to smoke, drink, dispense syringes and other devices that use drugs and are stigmatized in clinics.
Coronavirus is an airborne disease, which means that it spreads through the air in the form of microscopic droplets. Social distance is the most effective preventive measure against a coronavirus pandemic, as it eliminates the possibility of further spread of the virus by the sick and infects a healthy part of the population, as well as surfaces and products in shops, bars and other public places.
History of Chronic Diseases
One of the most important factors that determines a person’s resistance to covid-19 is the person’s initial health. People in need of substance abuse treatment are very vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic, as drug use is already undermining their well-being. Smoking marijuana, crack, cocaine and heroin significantly increases the risk of developing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can be fatal to covid-19.
The pandemic is also becoming increasingly dangerous for cocaine and injecting drug users due to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in this population. At present, drug addiction centers can save a person’s life not only by helping them overcome drug addiction, but also by strengthening their resistance to the coronavirus.Higher Frequency of Smoking and Gassing
Higher Frequency of Smoking and Gassing
Smoking and gassing are both significant aggravating factors during the covid-19 pandemic. Addicts have been reported to smoke more often than people who do not use drugs other than nicotine. The coronavirus affects smokers much more than non-smokers because it attacks and damages the lungs. Respiratory symptoms of smoking and covid-19 infection can also be supplemented with respiratory depression developed by opioid drugs.
Distribution of Drugs Via Units
The Covid-19 pandemic can be extremely violent for those who distribute drugs using tools such as bongs and syringes. Coronavirus can be transmitted by an infected person by touching the nose, mouth or eyes. Although this is not the primary route of transmission of covid-19, it does exist, especially if a particular object is passed on to many people. The CDC also points out that the coronavirus spreads faster when people are close to each other (less than 6 feet), which usually happens when drug-using devices are distributed. In this way, addiction treatment can protect a person from an illness while helping to fight a pandemic.
A Coronavirus Pandemic does not Interrupt Substance Abuse Treatment
No matter how gloomy the situation seems, a strong ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. Newer and more targeted strategies to slow the spread of the virus and the availability of an effective vaccine mean that addicts will continue to seek help at drug rehab centers and seek professional help to stay sober in such difficult times.
Find Drugstores Near you Anywhere in the United States
The Addiction Resource team has compiled a comprehensive list of the best drug detox services across the country. Click on the state you are interested in and you will get a list of the best centers in the area with service levels, opening hours and contact information. Did not find the rehabilitation you were looking for? Call the toll-free number below for professional help.