As the nation gets more stringent about non-essential travel and bans
on group gatherings to slow the spread of coronavirus, one expert says
the pandemic may result in an unintended rise in drug and alcohol
relapses among those who are in recovery.
“Yes, we are already starting to see an increase in relapses,” Dayry Hulkow, M.S., a primary therapist at Arete Recovery, a Delphi Behavioral Health Group facility, told Fox News.
Hulkow did not indicate how many relapses she had seen among clients, but according to the American Addiction Center,
over 19.7 million Americans aged 12 and older battled a substance use
disorder in 2017. About 74 percent of those individuals reported an
alcohol use disorder, while 38 percent reported an illicit drug use
disorder. Of those individuals, 8.5 million reported a mental health
disorder in addition to a substance use disorder.
Mental health professionals have recently been speaking out about different ways to cope with isolation and
anxiety regarding COVID-19, which can also act as triggers for those in
recovery, especially when coupled with canceled Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings.
“Social support and active involvement in the program both play a
huge role in recovery,” Hulkow said. “In the absence of these,
‘isolation’ and ‘emotional distress’ can be significant ‘triggers’ to
relapse. Feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, loneliness
and boredom can easily escalate particularly during this time.”
But, Hulkow said, there are still ways to lessen the risk, even in the days of social distancing and quarantine.
“Recovering individuals can utilize different ‘tools’ to cope during
this time such as: staying virtually engaged in the program, reading
recovery-oriented literature, practicing prayer and meditation, engaging
in healthy hobbies when possible, journaling thoughts and feelings,
completing arts and crafts projects, being creative and staying
present,” she said.
And for those who have limited access to smartphones or other
technology, Hulkow pointed out that there are still helplines and
hotlines available to offer support, as well as workbooks available that
support recovery and are still used by AA and NA. Hulkow also advised
turning to resources offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse for support.
She also added that those who are living with a person in recovery can help play a big role in supporting them.
“Supporters can contribute by creating a safe and healthy environment
around the home; creating opportunities for open and honest
communication and actively listening,” she said, adding that setting and
maintaining clear boundaries as well as staying alert to notice warning
signs of a potential relapse can also help.
Potential signs can be different for every individual, cautioned
Hulkow, but she added that it’s often close friends and family who are
the first to notice subtle changes in behavior that could signal
oncoming trouble. Typical signs can include a change in attitude, loss
of daily structure, poor self-care, elevated stress, emotional
reactivity, impulsive behavior, social isolation and physical symptoms
of either intoxication or withdrawal.
“The person in recovery can benefit from maintaining a structured
routine as ‘normal’ as possible,” Hulkow advised, adding that staying
virtually connective to support friends, family, sponsors or others in
recovery can also play an important role in staying on track.
Maintaining a healthy diet and practicing self-care like getting
regular exercise and adequate sleep can also help, as well as finding a
healthy outlet to relieve stress.
“This is a significant challenge for individuals recovering from
alcohol and drug addiction,” Hulkow said, of social distancing and
isolation. “It is important to find alternative ways to receive ongoing
support during this time. AA/NA and other support groups have ‘virtual
meetings’ available online. There are also other options to stay
connected via social media as well as by telephone or email.”
https://nypost.com/2020/03/30/coronavirus-is-causing-a-rise-in-drug-and-alcohol-relapses/
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