Austin Medical Times
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Mental Health Behind the Pandemic, An Epidemic Worsens By Lauren Rouse
While the world focuses on the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing opioid epidemic in America has gotten worse
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ocial Drug overdoses have increased drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provisional data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) indicates more than 81,000 deaths occurred from drug overdoses in the United States between June 2019 and May 2020, which is the largest number of drug overdose deaths ever recorded in the nation for a 12-month period. The report also noted that the rise in overdose deaths during this period was primarily driven by synthetic opioids, with state and local data reporting overdoses were linked to “illicitly manufactured fentanyl.” Texas, although not initially seen as a high opioid misuse state, reported a greater than 50 percent increase
and Aging and chair of the Texas A&M Health Opioid Task Force. Physical distancing and avoiding contacts outside of the home could inadvertently lead to higher numbers of people using substances alone without others to perform life-saving measures like administering naloxone or calling for help in case of an overdose. Additionally, the fear of contracting COVID-19 could deter bystanders from administering life-saving measures or the user from reaching out to health care providers for help. The response to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic has also involved shelter-in-place recommendations, travel restrictions and physical distancing guidelines, adding additional hurdles to treatment that people with opioid use disorder already face. The opioid epidemic didn’t go away when the coronavirus pandemic began, but access to many treatment options did. Getting treatment for
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April 2021
in synthetic opioid deaths in this 12-month period. The unknowns and challenges that come with a pandemic can cause many people to become stressed and overwhelmed with strong emotions, according to the CDC. This increased stress can cause anger, sadness, worry, frustration and physical reactions such as headaches, stomach pains or skin rashes, worsening mental health conditions, and increased use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. “It is not surprising that there is a convergence of these two public health crises, and generally negative impacts on both mental and physical health, especially for older adults who may become more socially isolated,” said Marcia G. Ory, PhD, MPH, founding director of the Texas A&M Health Center for Population Health
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opioid use disorder has always been complicated, often requiring daily visits to receive medication, such as methadone, that control cravings and maintain sobriety under the supervision of a clinician. During the pandemic, many such programs have remained shuttered, even as overdoses are on the rise. “Many patients suffering from opioid use disorder lost their main source of continuity, not only for medication and treatment, but also the community of people that supports them during recovery,” said Joy Alonzo, M. Engineering, PharmD, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy and co-chair of see Mental Health...page 13
