Coronavirus isolation could mean death for America’s opioid addicts

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So Could Scoring –

April 25, 2020 – “Instead of walking in, they call or we do it through video so they don’t have to come in unnecessarily and potentially put themselves or others at risk,” Smith said.

While it’s too early to produce hard data on the number of relapses, Smith said she’s seen fewer people seeking services — and that concerns her.

“People are having anxiety and having depression,” she said. “People are at home with family members 24/7, which maybe they don’t normally do, so are drinking more. And maybe they’re not aware we’re open. I know I talked to a provider a couple of days ago who thought we were closed.”

While many counseling sessions are still continuing through video conferencing or phone calls, “for people early on in that recovery process, some of them aren’t really comfortable engaging in that,” she said. “We have some patients that we’re their only lifeline. Although we are still calling and checking on them, it’s not the same.

“A deadly disease,” Smith added, “will not stop an addiction.”