How addicts can stay safe through COVID-19

Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jose Toledo

How addicts can stay safe through the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the world works forever. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as ‘back to normal’ or ‘the way things were’. Instead, there is now a new normal in our society, and it’s not quite the same as things once were.

Increased isolation, mis-matched work-life balance, lost jobs, added home stress and a lack of healthcare availability are only a few examples of what this ‘new normal’ looks like, and this new normal will undoubtedly put a strain on those suffering from addiction.

Here are a few ways addicts can keep safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Don’t put off seeking the help you need

Many rehab centers including Tikvah Lake Recovery remain open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. While they operate under new protocols that ensure the safety of both staff and patients, centers are doing what they can to continue their intake.

If you have rehab visit scheduled with a center, the best thing to do is to contact your center directly and ensure you’re still able to go.

2. Continue to access medical treatment, too

While the direct consequences of COVID-19 are severe, there’s a concern that this pandemic will cause widespread indirect damage to Americans, too. The long-term side effects of the coronavirus, for example, will cause more harm than good. And according to health group Well Being Trust, 75,000 Americans are at risk of dying from overdose or suicide due to COVID-19 despair.

It’s vital, then, to continue to access treatment through your local medical providers while COVID-19 occurs. While there might be a delay in treatment due to the increased pressures that healthcare staff face, do not excuse vital treatment due to the pandemic and continue to seek help.

For those suffering from mental health concerns as a consequence of their addiction, there are hotlines available, including:

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and make a call if you’re in a dangerous or desperate situation.

3. Do what you can to take care of yourself

The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on all of us, addicted or otherwise. If you’re suffering from an addiction and living in lockdown measures, it might be time to turn to your loved ones for help.

Suffering from an addiction in silence is hard enough but suffering in silence while you’re alone and isolated is even tougher. If you’re struggling to keep it together, or you feel your mental health or addiction spiralling out of your control, reach out to those nearest to you and voice how you’re feeling. The short-term challenge of opening up far outweighs the long-term negative consequences or a worsening addiction.

Should COVID-19 prevent you from going to rehab?

In short, no. The COVID-19 pandemic should not discourage you from attending rehab and getting expert help for your addiction.

While much of the country has been paralysed by fear, staying at home and letting your addiction feed itself is arguably much worse. it’s important to weigh up your risk and contemplate how the pandemic will worsen your addiction. For example, are you becoming more depressed since quarantine? And if so, is this causing your addiction to get worse?

If this is the case, it’s essential that you seek professional help as soon as possible, regardless of the current outlook in the world. At Tikvah Lake Recovery, we’ve taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all our patients who attend rehab, and our staff who visit.

To find out more about how we can help addicts through this time of pandemic, contact our experts today.

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