Summary: One of the first steps in addiction treatment is finding the right clinic. However, those with some addiction find it highly challenging to find the right information. They often regard lack of information as the biggest hurdle in addiction treatment. Fortunately, SAHAMSA, a US govt. agency has developed a website Findtreatment.gov, where one can find information about all the addiction treatment centers nearby. However, users complain that this website does not work as intended. Most of the information provided on the website is either wrong or outdated. Thus, experts think that fixing this website is the single most important thing that the US govt. can do to help people get rid of their addiction.

There is no doubt that US government officials understand the barriers to seeking treatment for drug addiction. They have the budgets and tools to overcome these issues. But regretfully, they have still come up with a solution that does not seem to help as intended.

The reason? This online tool provides inaccurate and outdated information.

Drug addiction is a significant problem in the US. It is the leading cause of death among young adults. Most of these deaths are preventable through timely help. However, young adults feel that finding help is quite challenging.

Many studies have identified barriers to seeking help like lack of anonymity, perceived high costs, lack of sufficient information, and more. In addition, many young adults simply do not know where to seek medical help.

Of course, one of the simple ways is Google search. However, many find that even it does not work well, as it may point to non specialized clinics. Or, many sponsored Google search results are of clinics that may not serve the purpose well.

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has come up with an excellent idea that could help those living with addiction if it worked. They created a website Findtreatment.gov.

At first sight, it is a pretty good solution. All you need to do is search the website by city or zip code, and it provides a list of all the clinics nearby that can help manage substance addiction. It is a massive database of 13,000 state-licensed treatment facilities. In addition, the website provides detailed information about the kind of services offered in each clinic, what insurance plans are accepted, and what kind of patients they treat.

When the project was launched, everyone was pretty excited, as it was definitely a step in the right direction. Finally, instead of finding information from various sources, one can find all the reliable information in one place.

However, people who have used this platform say it does not serve its purpose well. It is barely in a condition to help people looking for information regarding addiction treatment. As a result, what could have become a gold standard tool for searching for addiction treatment, fails to provide any practical help.

People who have used it for the reasons understood say that when they search the platform, they get a long list of clinics. However, when they start calling those clinics, they learn that either the information is completely outdated or even telephone numbers are not working.

Even if they can contact the addiction treatment clinics, they are surprised to learn that those clinics cannot cater to new clients. This is because they already have too many patients, and thus they are not taking any new patients.

Experts say that if the US has to overcome this substance addiction epidemic and reduce addiction-related deaths effectively, it must use technology. In addition, the government must ensure that its tools are up-to-date and they provide precise information.

People living with addiction are hesitant to seek help. They readily give up if they do not get help after making some effort. One needs to understand that people addicted to substances differ from other patients. They lack that kind of patience. They would not seek help for long. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that when they search for help, it must be available.

The site FindTreatment.gov is still getting about 300,000 visitors. It means that people are trying to use this tool. However, considering the severity of the problem, not many people are using this website. That is why experts say that if the US authorities are serious about helping people with addiction, fixing this website is the most important thing they can do.

Summary: Opioid epidemic has been ongoing for a long. However, the covid-19 pandemic has made the opioid crisis worse for many reasons. First, it appears that due to social isolation, reduced income, and other reasons, people are seeking relief from opioids. Additionally, the opioid crisis is also being made worse due to reduced attention and allocation of resources, as everyone is focusing more on countering covid-19. However, researchers warn that this would have long-term adverse consequences, causing a prolonged upsurge in opioid misuse or substance abuse disorder (SUD).

 

Opioid overdose is among the major causes of death among young adults and is a highly preventable condition. Even covid-19 epidemic would cause less mortality among healthy adults, which means that one can reduce the risk of contracting the infection through various interventions. However, those living with substance abuse disorder (SUD) are less likely to take these measures.

 

The opioid overdose epidemic has been ongoing in various parts of the US for a long time. However, in early 2020, another epidemic, or rather a pandemic, struck the world, causing millions of deaths. However, covid-19 is far from over. It is subdued but not conquered. It keeps coming back in waves as new strains keep emerging. Moreover, there is no vaccine that can protect people from covid-19 in all cases.

 

The problem is that people are more likely to see drugs during the pandemic and lockdowns. This is evident from the nationwide data. People feel more stressed and isolated, and thus they seek relief from drugs. Hence, looking for a timely opioid addiction treatment becomes a non-negotiable way out.

 

Although, covid-19 is not as significant a threat as it used to be due to mass vaccination. Nonetheless, it remains a significant public health threat. Moreover, current vaccines do not provide complete protection, and even worse, the immunity provided by these vaccines is waning in many, and they need a booster dose.

 

Opioids suppress the respiratory system, worsening covid-19 outcomes

 

Although most people may visualize opioid epidemics and covid-19 as separate disorders, that is not the case. Opioids suppress the respiratory system, harm pulmonary health, and covid-19 mainly causes lung infection.

 

Studies show that those living with SUD are at a 30% greater risk of hospitalization and are much more likely to diet due to severe covid-19 infection. In addition, many studies suggest that opioid use disorder increases the risk of contracting covid-19 by several times.

 

However, the problem is that covid-19 is only making the opioid epidemic worse. Data suggests that since the beginning of covid-19, opioid overdose-related deaths have increased in many parts of the nation.

 

Health experts worry that covid-19 pandemic is laying the grounds for the long-term resurgence of SUD. There are many reasons, including social isolation, increased mental stress, loss of employment, reduced income, and more. In addition, Covid-19 and opiate dependence is causing what researchers call “deaths of despair.”

 

Although we are confident that every covid-19 wave will weaken, this pandemic will end in the long run. However, even if this pandemic tsunami recedes, it is going to leave much damage behind, causing a resurgence in the opioid crisis.

 

These issues are not only due to stress or social isolation. Covid-19 has also disrupted SUD treatment and social support infrastructure, as everyone is focusing on controlling the more severe condition, covid-19. It means that many people living with SUD have discontinued their treatment, and now bringing them back to the clinics would require much effort.

 

Doctors say that people need to understand that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection. Unfortunately, healthcare workers and even family members have lost connection with those living with drug addiction.

 

Thus, the natural way to prevent further worsening of this condition is to start reconnecting with those living with opiate use disorder or SUD. Moreover, it is worth understanding that the opioid crisis may cause more mortalities in the long run than the current covid-19 wave. Of course, an adequate covid-19 response is essential, but it should not come at the expense of reduced attention to drug addiction.

 

Another less discussed reason for the opioid overdose epidemic is that covid-19 response has robbed healthcare workers of certain resources, as most of the sources are now being used to fight covid-19. Many of those affected by the opioid overdose epidemic see those poor policies as the significant causes driving the epidemic.