Making Substance Use Treatments More Accessible During COVID
It’s well established that access to treatment for substance dependency issues is crucial for many reasons. But, in this pandemic, substance use also puts people at higher risk for getting COVID, for becoming hospitalized if they get it, and for death. Opioid dependency, in particular, carries a high risk.
It’s critically important to offer access to treatment that can help people safely taper opioids. This helps to reduce the risk of severe outcomes — especially during an ongoing pandemic. Here’s how teletherapy and other tech tools are crucial in providing solutions to this issue.
Substance dependency and COVID-19 risk
First, it’s important to note that the CDC has not conclusively linked substance use to a higher occurrence of COVID-19. This means that while it is possible that drug use could make COVID-19 illness more severe, more evidence is needed.
Although drug use alone does not lead to increased rates of COVID-19, there are underlying health conditions connected to substance use that do increase a person’s risk. An NIH study found that 10.3% of participants were individuals with a substance use disorder; those individuals accounted for 15.6% of the COVID-19 cases.
“In terms of complications, the hospitalization rate for people with substance use disorder was 41%, compared to about 30% for those without it. The death rate was 9.6% for people with substance abuse disorder and 6.6% for those without,” reported the Detroit Free Press.
There are two main reasons why COVID-19 impacts those dealing with substance dependence more severely than the general population. First, drug use often goes hand-in-hand with chronic lung disease or a serious heart condition. We know that COVID-19 risk increases when the lungs and cardiovascular system are compromised.
For instance, in one study, African Americans with an opioid use disorder were more than four times more likely to develop COVID-19 as compared to whites. The reason? Hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are more prevalent in Black patients with an opioid dependency; and these conditions are major risk factors for the coronavirus.
Loss of access: how the pandemic isolates those with substance dependency
The second reason why COVID-19 is a bigger risk for those with substance dependency is one that can be approached through thoughtful, comprehensive interventions.
Often, those facing substance dependency are marginalized and have difficulty accessing health care services. “Individuals with a substance use disorder are more likely to experience homelessness or incarceration than those in the general population, and these circumstances pose unique challenges regarding [the] transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19,” wrote Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health.
But, it’s not only the incarcerated who are struggling to access care. With elective surgeries postponed, COVID-19 has forced doctors and hospitals to delay tens of millions of elective surgeries. These so-called “elective” procedures include knee replacements, cancer surgeries, and life-saving organ transplants. Patients who are enduring chronic pain may be prescribed opioids or benzos for pain management while waiting for surgery. Unfortunately, many have had to continue taking these substances indefinitely while waiting for the pandemic to subside.
This large population is “marginalized” in a new sense. The pandemic has made it difficult — and sometimes dangerous — for these patients to get the treatment they need to taper safely from strong prescribed medications that could be putting their health at risk. There’s a very real danger of potentially immune-compromised individuals being exposed to the virus in a hospital setting. It’s a catch-22 that requires a comprehensive, holistic approach — one that new telehealth companies are hoping to provide.
Making treatment more accessible
Telehealth and other tech tools are providing those dealing with substance use a new option for safely tapering or managing their dependency.
For those who may be newly encountering a substance dependency due to a delayed procedure, Skyler Health is here to help. Our telehealth platform connects you with licensed counselors who can give you techniques to manage pain and emotions, and offer therapy over messaging, video, or over the phone.
We also offer support groups to connect you with other individuals who are also facing substance dependency. Whether you’re looking to share and process thoughts and emotions, self-reflect, or practice accountability, there’s a place for you here.
Those who are struggling with an existing dependency can also reach out to the experts at Skyler Health. We can provide a tailored approach to prevent relapse through individual counseling sessions, group therapy, and two-way texting in between sessions to help you work through cravings and issues as they arise. We only use strategies that have been scientifically proven to help decrease alcohol and substance use.
The CDC has other resources available to help. Check out some of these options:
- Resources listed in the SAMHSA treatment locator
- Virtual recovery resources are available if in-person visits are not.
- Many opioid treatment programs and syringe services programs remain open during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic because they are considered essential services.
Tele-therapy is critical to treating substance dependency during this pandemic. Remote therapy options can help reduce the risk of transmission to those with underlying health conditions that may be caused by substance use. And, teletherapy can help those struggling in isolation get access to care without putting themselves at further risk. Get started with Skyler Health today!
