Heroine NOT Heroin –
May 8, 2020 – It’s a difficult time to be an addict. Researchers tend to see spikes in substance use during emergencies like COVID-19. On top of the general stress of social distancing, the shuttering of support meetings and health-care centres increase the possibility of relapse. This situation is complicated by the disruption of the drug market due to border closings; as supply goes down, erratic usage and overdoses rise. People start taking substances they’re unfamiliar with. Vancouver, the centre of the opioid crisis in Canada, saw a spike in overdose-related deaths during the month of March.
The point of staying sober and present during the pandemic is the same as it’s always been; to be around to care for and support those around us.
An unpredictable and dangerous beast
Kicking my opioid habit last year was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I think of oxycodone as one of the Greeks’ mythological sirens — crooning beautifully from the edge of an ocean it’s itching to pull you down into. The drug was seductive, manipulative and incredibly bewitching. It was also an unpredictable and dangerous beast.
