Over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021—the most ever recorded in a single year—according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About two/thirds of those deaths involved Fentanyl or another synthetic opioid. Sometimes mixed with other “recreational” drugs the use of fentanyl can lead to addiction, death, and destruction of individuals, couples, and families.
While increasing use of the synthetic was happening before Covid-19 hit, the pandemic may have exacerbated the problem. According to Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the pandemic more than likely accelerated drug addiction. “People face enormous financial difficulties, mass unemployment, isolation, the fear and anxiety and uncertainty of the pandemic itself,” he said. “All of those things can test anyone’s resilience to addiction.”
And even now that we are coming out of the Pandemic and easing Covid-19 restrictions, the effects of drug addiction and overdose will most likely persist for some time.
There are many options for treating drug addiction. Start by reaching out to a health professional to see what’s best for you. Please don’t hesitate to call, email or message me (all communication is strictly confidential) if you need help whether it be drugs or any addiction.
