Addiction Increases Chances to Contract Coronavirus
Both alcohol and drugs create a dangerous welcome mat for any disease – coronavirus included. For alcohol users, excessive drinking can damage many internal organs – including your overall immune system. For drug users, especially opioid users, it can directly affect lung compacity. All of this means that those with substance use disorder can be more susceptible to the coronavirus.
Alongside the physical dangers of using substances at this time, there are social factors that come in to play. National Institute of Drug Abuse research says those with substance use disorder can have decreased access to healthcare, greater incidence of housing insecurity, and a greater likelihood of incarceration. These social factors create environments that can because people to become extremely susceptible to COVID-19.
Getting Help for Your Addiction During COVID-19
If you or someone you know is in active addiction and wants to stop their use, there are a few steps you can take to see what avenue to take for help.
- Confide in someone you trust. Sometimes making the decision to get help is hard and having a trusted confidant that can help you make the right choice can help. This person can also help to keep you accountable in your journey after you start your recovery journey.
- Research your options. There are many treatment options available – from outpatient, to partial hospitalization, to an in-patient residential facility, like Stepping Stone Center for Recovery. Knowing which options are out there can help you choose the option that is right for you.
- Reach out to a professional. If you feel that you may have an underlying condition that is feeding your addiction – like trauma, anxiety, depression, or PTSD – reaching out to a professional can help. A professional can walk you through the clinical aspect of addiction treatment and can help you choose a treatment center that fits your needs.
Detoxing without medical supervision poses a greater risk of death than the coronavirus. While we understand that traveling under the current circumstances presents fear for many people, we also want to stress the importance of detoxing under medical supervision.
Why Choose Stepping Stone Center for Recovery for Treatment
Stepping Stone is a 10-14 day residential medical detox facility. What’s important to know about us is that one of our top priorities is to detox patients as comfortably as possible. We have a team ready to make sure you get the help you need and feel safe in doing so.
We have also significantly enhanced our already high-quality protocols to mitigate the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak. We test every incoming patient for COVID-19 to ensure they aren’t positive for the virus. This means we’re able to keep our current patients and staff safe while admitting new patients.
Our facilities routinely go through sterilization and disinfectant processes. Our facility also provides close medical oversight while in detox to help provide a comfortable process for our patients. On top of our high-quality medical team, you will have access to 1:1 therapy sessions, connection points to help you after you leave treatment and an overall healthier you.
We understand that living with a substance use disorder presents challenges even during the best of times. Things are tougher still these days, we get that, too. But if you take care to follow the above-mentioned tips and guidelines, chances are very good you’ll come through this pandemic just fine.
