The Need
Recovery During a Crisis
The increase in substance misuse, which has been a particular problem over the past two decades in Central Appalachia, is often described as a "crisis." Beginning March 2020, those with substance use disorder and those in recovery have experienced a crisis-within-a-crisis as the COVID-19 pandemic has altered nearly all aspects of society. This year’s research focused on how COVID-19 has changed recovery, the stigma around SUDs, and experiences with telehealth in the New River Valley.
Background on Substance Use Disorder
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health is a survey administered once a year among people 12 years of age and older and quantifies the current substance use within the United States. In 2018 approximately 164.8 million people participated in substance use. Prescription medications are the most used behind marijuanna.
In order to address the rising number of overdose deaths in the Commonwealth, Virginia has implemented the Comprehensive Harm Reduction plan, a set of policies and guidelines that aim to reduce the negative impacts of drug use. A side effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic has been that some of the programs included in the plan have been less utilized. This is reflected in data comparison of 2019 and 2020.
SUD and COVID- 19
The pandemic forced many local recovery centers, support groups, and peer outreach centers to close throughout the area. At the same time, hospitalizations related to SUDs increased in areas keeping record of this data.
When comparing COVID-19 cases from March 2020 to November 2020 in the ACR counties to the number of reported overdose cases, as Covid increased the overdose cases followed in similar trends.
