The worldwide crisis of the coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone. The way we work, socialize, and care for our health have all been impacted. For many these factors are cause for tremendous amounts of stress; for others, they are triggers for alcohol and substance abuse.
The stress of living with the pandemic has led to more people leaning on drugs and alcohol abuse to cope with uncertainty and adversity. This is reflected in an increase in sales of alcoholic beverages over the last few months, as well as an increase in the number of patients treated in ERs for drug overdoses.
The rise in alcohol and substance abuse can be partly attributed to an increase in people who were once occasional users of alcohol or illicit drugs, now making it a daily habit, and addicts who relapsed due to challenges they faced during the pandemic.
Challenges encountered by those needing help for addiction include fear of seeking health in treatment centers due to fear of exposure of the coronavirus, limitations affecting in-person support groups or the decline of treatment centers due to a lack of funding.
Although the coronavirus pandemic may pose a few challenges for those seeking help with addiction, there are still many resources available to provide assistance with recovery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov offer helpful information to individuals and families facing mental health and substance abuse disorders on their websites (include links)
Those who are suffering from addiction are also encouraged to seek help from their doctor or any trained alcohol and substance abuse professional.
If you are having substance abuse issues and would like to speak to a trained professional at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, You can schedule an appointment by calling 718-670-4416.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.