Dial Up? –

Sep. 25, 2020 – With the pandemic putting programs like these on hiatus, patients like Megan, who has been with Moms in Recovery, was relieved when the program started up again virtually. (She declined to give her full name for privacy reasons.)

“When groups did start going virtual, I started to feel like myself again and getting back on track,” Megan said. “I am worried about the people I was close with in the program who cannot attend anymore, because it is not a question of ‘if,’ it’s a question of ‘when.’” Secondary repercussions in health as a result of the pandemic have been profound. Three times as many people reported battling depression, and there have been more deaths from opioid overdose. Additionally, a recent peer-reviewed study found an increased susceptibility to complications from COVID-19 infection among patients struggling with substance abuse.

“I know at least one or two [people] a month who have died since July [from opioid overdose],” Megan explained. “I am just worried about the kids. The next generation all the kids will share something — a parent who died from overdose.”

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