The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm and caused several changes in daily life. For many, wearing a mask and social distancing is not about the potential of COVID being fatal, but these measures are taken to protect more susceptible populations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), certain groups are considered more “high risk” for COVID-19, including elderly adults, individuals with severe underlying medical conditions, groups with chronic illnesses, and others. However, one group that is often not mentioned is those that are struggling with active addiction. This population is also at high risk for COVID-19, and proper precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of these individuals and those around them.
The National Institutes of Health recently conducted a study to see if those struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) and addiction are more likely to suffer complications from COVID-19. The study was conducted by several expert scientists that are part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), including Dr. Volkow and Rong Xu, Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Non-identifiable electronic health records (EHR) were used as data and were collected from 360 hospitals across the United States. The data collected is from June 15, 2020, and before. The population used for the study included more than 73 million patients, with 7.5 million of them having a SUD at one point in their life. Only specific SUDs were studied, including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids.
The study results were that while 10.3% of the population had a SUD, this group held 15.6% of COVID-19 cases. The study found that of the study population, 12,000 were diagnosed with COVID-19. The data also showed that if a person had more recently struggled with a SUD, they were more likely to have a COVID-19 diagnosis than those that didn’t. Of this group, those that struggled with opioid use disorder were at the highest risk, followed closely by tobacco use disorders. Hospital death rates were also higher if they had a larger number of patients with SUDs than those without (41% vs. 30.1%). It was also determined that African Americans with a recently diagnosed opioid use disorder were four times more likely to develop COVID-19 than white patients. This is because African Americans with an opioid use disorder are more likely to develop hypertension, diabetes, and various cardiovascular diseases than white patients with the same SUD. According to the researchers on the study, patients should be screened for SUDs and treated for them as a strategy for keeping the pandemic under control.
Dr. Volkow, one of the leading doctors on the study, stated that “The lungs and cardiovascular system are often compromised in people with SUD, which may partially explain their heightened susceptibility to COVID-19.” It is also not uncommon for those struggling with addiction to not have access to proper medical care due to marginalization, social stigma, and access to resources. For these reasons, it is more likely that those with SUDs to suffer more severe complications from COVID-19.
The CDC has put out the following suggestions for those struggling with a SUD to stay safe during the pandemic:
Northstar Transitions is continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation to ensure full safety for its clients and staff.
Virtual IOP services are offered to ensure distancing, with morning and evening options available. There are also in-person services for IOP groups with strict safety measures, including:
Residential services for both men and women remain open and are accepting new clients. Strict protocols are in place, such as:
Northstar wants to ensure all its clients, staff, and visitors are safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. You can contact the facility by phone or email should you have any further questions about Northstar’s safety guidelines and protocols.
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has been an ever-evolving situation even now in 2021. Susceptible groups have been recommended to take extra precautions to ensure their safety against the virus, including those struggling with addiction, according to a new study. The study results found that those with substance use disorders are among those at-risk groups for severe complications from the virus. There are several things you can do if you are struggling with active addiction or have struggled in the past, including necessary precautions you should be taking as laid out by the CDC. Northstar Transitions has been monitoring the pandemic to ensure its client’s and staff’s safety so treatment can continue with safety precautions. To learn more about the impacts of COVID-19 on addiction, reach out to the facility today at (303) 558-6400. While this is a stressful time for everyone, you don’t have to go through it alone. Treatment is available, and you can still find recovery.
