Addiction Treatment For Essential Workers

COVID-19’s Implications For Mental Health And Substance Abuse

The pandemic and the economic crisis have harmed many people’s mental health and created new challenges for those already suffering. During the pandemic, almost 4 in 10 adults in the United States showed anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms. This number has remained mostly steady, up from one in ten adults who had similar symptoms from January to June 2019.

During and before the COVID-19 epidemic, this brief examines mental health and substance usage.

• Young adults have faced various pandemic-related effects, such as university closures and lost income, which may have contributed to their poor mental health. A higher-than-average proportion of young adults (18-24) experience anxiety and depression symptoms (56 percent ). Substance use (25 percent vs. 13 percent) and suicide ideation are more common in young adults than in other individuals (26 percent vs. 11 percent ). Young adults were already at significant risk of poor mental health and substance use disorder before the epidemic, but many did not receive treatment.
• According to evidence from prior economic downturns, job loss is connected to increased melancholy, worry, discomfort, and low self-esteem. Adults in families with no jobs or lower incomes report higher rates of mental disorders symptoms than those in households without jobs or income loss during the pandemic.
• Research revealed worries about children’s mental health and well-being during the epidemic, particularly among mothers facing school closures. Women with children are more likely than males to experience anxiety and depression symptoms (49 percent vs. 40 percent ). Both before and after the epidemic, women have reported higher rates of anxiety and sadness than men.
• The epidemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on the health of people of color. Historically, many communities of color have encountered difficulty getting mental health care.
• Many vital workers continue to confront difficulties, including a higher chance of catching the coronavirus than other workers. During the pandemic, essential workers are more likely than nonessential workers to exhibit symptoms of anxiety or depressive illness (42 percent vs. 30 percent ), begin or increase substance usage (25 percent vs. 11 percent), and have suicidal thoughts (22 percent vs. 8 percent).

Those newly diagnosed with mental health and those already diagnosed before the pandemic may require mental health and substance abuse assistance. Still, they may face extra obstacles as a result of the epidemic.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Decades Of Drug Policy Failings 

The pandemic has increased the risk and harm to drug users, which has exposed the common occurrence of an overdose. Long-standing political inaction and failed policy measures have resulted in thousands of lives lost to overdoses and, now, drug toxicity. Long-standing political inaction and failed policy measures have resulted in thousands of lives lost to overdoses and, now, drug toxicity.

From a lack of welfare and treatment services to the criminalization of drug use, it is long-standing political inaction and failed policy measures that have resulted in thousands of lives lost to overdoses and, now, drug toxicity.

Drug-related Deaths During The COVID-19 Pandemic

This year has been challenging; overdose deaths in the United States set a new peak in 2020, with 4,000 people dying. Since employment is difficult during this period, a lot of people or suffering the consequences of this. These figures, however, do not include nonfatal overdoses that cause harm, pain, and health implications for users, loved ones, and communities.

The study of how drug use and associated problems have altered in the face of more significant drug toxicity and increased social vulnerability is still in its early stages. Furthermore, public health interventions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in several unexpected outcomes that have negatively impacted the health and survival of drug users.

According to community-based organizations, physical distancing and other public health requirements have limited access to life-saving resources (such as overdose prevention services, food, and housing).

However, as these organizations have tried to adapt their programs in response to ever-changing COVID-19 conditions, providing direct support and interacting with drug users has become more complex.

As a result, people are more disposed to use drugs on their own, posing more significant risks and restricting access to treatment and assistance that could help them stay safe and survive in an emergency.

Crisis As An Opportunity For Policy Change

We must investigate and comprehend the connection between the epidemic and the overdose catastrophe. But it’s even more critical that we remember the decades of failed drug policies that have created the ideal breeding ground for the destruction we’ve seen this year.

Crises such as COVID-19 can be crucial in identifying flaws that need to be addressed and clarifying our perspectives. To combat drug overdoses and deaths, we need to think beyond the box. Employment is a way out.

First and foremost, the possession of illicit narcotics for personal use should be decriminalized. Decriminalization has the potential of reducing the number of fatalities and injuries caused by a poisonous drug supply. If COVID-19 does not provide the impetus for our governments to take bold action, when will it be?

Addressing Addiction During The Pandemic

COVID-19 has exacerbated the addiction epidemic, which has increased by 42 percent in May compared to last year. Alcohol consumption has grown considerably, and many people who had been in treatment have relapsed. We don’t yet know the entire scope of the consequences, but we can say that the number of persons suffering from substance abuse disorders and mental health issues has skyrocketed. 

The opioid epidemic is catastrophic and only growing worse, with opioid-related death occurring every 11 minutes. Unfortunately, the epidemic will have a long-term and terrible impact on many people. Furthermore, COVID-related unemployment is expected to result in millions of more individuals losing their health insurance, making treatment for those with substance use disorders (SUDs) more difficult. Many people believe that addiction is something that happens to other people.

How To Protect Essential Workers During COVID-19

Even though COVID-19 will necessitate social distance for the next several weeks or months, the United States will continue to require a large number of workers to keep critical services online.

A fraction of these critical individuals will be continuing to report to work at grocery stores, health care facilities, water utilities, and other locations. To ensure that the other part of the country can retain some normalcy throughout this health catastrophe.

In other words, a deeper understanding of who these people are and the hazards they confront is more important than the actual number of employees. Because many of these individuals risk their lives to secure ours, the country owes it to them and their families to safeguard their health and financial security.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the federal government has a moral and financial obligation to safeguard critical workers—particularly those who must continue working outside the house. To avoid further contraction, some essential workers must continue operating or reporting to their workplaces if they cannot telework.

This situation necessitates the federal government to create a short-term social contract with vital labor, similar to a wartime economy. This social contract should recognize three critical realities:

• Many essential workers are more likely to become ill or die due to their service.
• They are more likely to contract COVID-19 due to activities at the job site and travel to it, necessitating the need to keep the worker and their families healthy.

Addiction Treatment For Essential Workers Is Available To Help You Recover

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our frontline employees play a vital role in providing critical services and care. Working in industries, hospitals, nursing homes, and acute care institutions, this portion of the population is likewise concerned about their health and safety.

Miracles Recovery Center is a dual-diagnosis facility that can treat both mental health and addiction issues. Workers who come to our facility are assigned to a primary therapist and given a detailed treatment plan based on their individual needs.

Addiction to drugs or alcohol is frequently linked to a traumatic event in the past. Some persons with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions turn to drugs or alcohol to repress these horrific memories. EMDR is a therapy technique for reducing unpleasant memories, which has a powerful effect and minimizes the risk of recurrence.

Besides EMDR, we offer many other therapy services, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Motivational interviewing
• Trauma counseling 
• Psychodrama
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Biofeedback
• Family therapy
• Expressive therapy
• Art therapy
• Yoga and meditation
• 12-step approach 

Our programs are designed to address substance use problems. We are also underlying concerns such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder that affect vital employees. Our discharge team will meet with you before you leave our facility to build a relapse prevention plan to assist you in making a smooth transition to continued care following treatment.

Miracles Recovery Center is where people can begin to heal, where relationships can be rebuilt, and where life can once again be enjoyed. Contact us to help you get through this challenging time and hope that a better year will come.