The pandemic was brutal on people struggling with substance use disorders. According to Nora Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people lost access to medications for opioid use disorder, lost their peer support meetings, and absorbed the new stress of social distancing on top of job loss and housing insecurity. The result showed up in the numbers.
The Key Statistics
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics measured the year from October 2019 to October 2020 and found:
- A 30% increase in drug overdose deaths across all substances
- A 46% increase in deaths involving methamphetamine and other stimulants
- A 38% increase in cocaine-related deaths
- More than half of overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids, with fentanyl driving the bulk of that increase
Dr. Volkow called the numbers "very, very chilling."
Government Response
SAMHSA and the DEA adjusted policies around medications used to treat opioid use disorder. Methadone procedures were relaxed to allow more home-based treatment, recognizing that the existing rules made it impossible for many patients to keep their treatment going during lockdowns.
Worried About a Loved One?
Fentanyl has changed the math on what an overdose can mean. Our admissions team is here right now. Confidential, available 24/7.
Addressing Stigma
Destigmatizing substance use disorder is critical. When people feel ashamed or judged, they are less likely to ask for help. Volkow noted that people who feel discriminated against are far less likely to seek the treatment that could save their lives. Fentanyl in particular has changed what is at stake. Most overdose deaths today involve a substance the person did not know they were taking.
If You or a Loved One Is Struggling
The numbers are sobering, but they are not the whole story. Treatment works. Positive Recovery Centers offers a full continuum of care from medical detox through outpatient programs across Texas. Call 713-904-4699.
A new life in recovery may just be a phone call away.