COVID-19 is not the only epidemic facing our country. Everyone knows that drug and alcohol addiction and mental health issues are a huge problem for Americans, and the latest numbers show that it’s only getting worse.
According to an analysis of National Center for Health Statistics data conducted by Well Being, 150,000 people died from drugs, alcohol and suicide in America in 2018.
While overall deaths due to opioids went down two percent that year, the bad news is the death rate linked to synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, rose 10 percent. Deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants, such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and prescription stimulants, also went up, while alcohol-related deaths increased four percent from the previous year.
The numbers are bad, but there’s reason to worry even more people could lose their battle with addiction in 2020. Over the past months, the coronavirus pandemic has caused massive stress and anxiety for millions of Americans who are facing everything from unemployment to illness and the loss of loved ones.
Some with mental health issues could be susceptible to feelings of hopelessness or despair and may turn to self-medicating during this unprecedented crisis. Those already battling a substance use disorder could increase their drug or alcohol use in order to cope.
The evidence the pandemic is already taking a toll is disturbing. In March alone, calls to the national mental health crisis hotline were up nearly 900 percent over the same month last year.
In short, the COVID-19 outbreak means now more than ever, people with behavioral health and addiction issues need help. Don’t become a statistic. If you’re struggling with these problems, detox and/or residential treatment can help.
At Transformations Care, our staff can guide patients through the entire process of becoming free from drugs and alcohol — from detox to residential treatment and aftercare.
The Transformations Care facility is also equipped to keep residents safe from the coronavirus thanks to rigorous safety protocols, including temperature checks at the door and rigorous patient screening by our doctor.
Don’t become just another grim statistic this year. You can turn this dark time into a chance to finally break free from addiction and start a new path forward.
If you’re ready to begin the journey, we are here to help. Contact us today.
GUIDE
Getting Clean & Sober at Home
Today, more than 75% of hospitals and healthcare providers offer access to telehealth treatment, with 29 states having gone so far as to enact telehealth parity laws, which force insurance companies to reimburse patients for telehealth at the same rates as they would for in-person treatment.
If you’ve been thinking about getting clean and sober, or if you’ve been wanting to work on and strengthen the recovery you already have, it’s never been easier to do it through telehealth.
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