Stay close to those you love –

Dec. 28, 2020 – Earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders were put into place to prevent unnecessary illness, death and collapse of the U.S. health care system. With a recent third surge of infections breaking daily records for new hospitalizations and deaths linked to the virus, several states have kept a patchwork of those public health precautions in place as the U.S. has failed to contain COVID-19.  But in doing so, transportation to clinics became complicated. Many people feared going to a doctor’s office could spread the virus further. In-person talk therapy sessions were abandoned for video conferencing. Some experts have said those options, while better than nothing, are not as effective for people who recently decided to enter recovery … Kennedy, who has said he is under consideration to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the Biden administration, noted that the vaccination campaigns rolling out across the country could provide an opportunity to check on people struggling with mental health and substance use. Something as simple as a basic series of screening questions when giving the vaccine could help health care providers “identify and focus on those who are in jeopardy,” he said.

“If you’re already predisposed to addiction, this COVID crisis is going to make you even more vulnerable,” Kennedy said.

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