The Loneliness Of Addiction Magnified During COVID19 Pandemic

By Dr. John Rosa

As the COVID19 pandemic continues with no ending point in sight, getting help for drug addiction is more important than ever. Unfortunately help for addicts is not readily available with the closure of clinics for medication assisted treatments and well as alternatives for chronic pain management. And social distancing requirements make it even more difficult on addicts

 

This lack of help and human interaction for people in recovery from drug addiction is creating the perfect environment for relapse. At least those who suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) still have access to alcohol since liquor stores have been deemed essential businesses in most states. In addition there is very limited medical treatment for AUD and keeping people out of hospitals is important.  This is one important reason why liquor stores have been deemed essential. There are more than 15 million people in the U.S. who have AUD and it’s imperative they have access to their substance of choice.

 

Without an equivalent method of help for drug addiction, the rate of relapse and overdoses will put an even greater demand on hospitals that are already overburdened with COVID19 patients.

 

The Rat Park Experiment Proves How Loneliness Fuels Addiction

Drug addiction is a disease. It is a disease caused by loneliness, fear and uncertainty. To help anyone who may be unfamiliar with how loneliness fuels addiction, I am posting the results of a famous experiment called The Rat Park Experiment as posted on. Psychcentral.com.

 

“One of the most infamous drug experiments that was proliferated during the “War on Drugs” era in the United States was the rat experiment. Rats were placed in a cage containing a feeder bottle of water laced with cocaine and, unsurprisingly, they consumed the cocaine in enormous quantities until they died. This experiment supposedly displayed why even just trying an illicit substance could get you hooked, but it didn’t satisfy Bruce Alexander, a researcher at Simon Fraser University.”

 

“He recreated the experiment and tweaked one important variable: the cage. In the original experiment, the rats were in a small cage by themselves with no company, no space, and no exercise toys to play with. In Bruce’s new experiment, he constructed Rat Park, filled with everything a rat could desire from tunnels and turn wheels to other rats to play with. This time around, none of the rats got hooked on the drug laced water, which this time was a morphine drip. Alexander’s main point was that it wasn’t necessarily the drug that created addicts, but the cage they were trapped in that drove them to become addicts. When a rat had plenty of things to do, space to be free, and other rats to socialize with, it was far less likely to develop a crippling addiction.”

https://psychcentral.com/blog/why-addicts-are-often-lonely-people/

 

Efforts Must Be Made To Keep Addicts Safe From Withdrawal, Relapse And Overdose

I imagine by now regular folks who are not addicted to drugs or alcohol are beginning to feel the pressure of social isolation. Some of these people may decide to have a drink. Some may even experiment with drugs. This challenging time is helping many people understand how easy it is to fall prey to addiction during times of uncertainty, fear and loneliness. If you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs, please reach out as often as you can to help them get through this challenging time. Explore the use of digital platforms to have virtual visits if possible. This is not an easy time for anyone and it is particularly difficult for anyone addicted to opioids, alcohol and drugs of any kind.

Thankful For Lawsuits And Arrests

By Dr. John Rosa

opioid epidemic

We’re starting to see a little light in the Opioid Crisis tunnel.

No one will be doing a happy dance despite the fact that the Sackler family is being pursued legally for their role in fueling the worldwide opioid epidemic. But, it is a step in the right direction for those of us pursuing alternative non-medical methods of pain management. Not a happy dance, but a definite source of thankfulness.

Creating Awareness

This year has seen strides made in creating greater awareness about the opioid crisis, and, for the first time in years, the death rate has gone down just a bit. Nothing statistically significant, but any little bit is good news.

Another bit of recent good news is that an arrest in Virginia has put a pill-pushing doctor out of commission. This medical professional actually prescribed opioids to every patient in his practice. Not just a few, but every single patient according to an article at usatoday.com.

According to the article,” To get drugs… many patients traveled “hundreds of miles, one-way,” waited as long as 12 hours and slept in the parking lot of his office.”

So Long Sackler

So, one doctor is no longer in a position to push opioids and the billionaire Sackler family is being shunned by reputable universities, art institutions and businesses around the world. Many of these institutions have been the recipients of endowments and donations in the millions of dollars. Those donations are now being called “blood money.”

According to a related article at usatoday.com, “Petitions at New York University and Tel Aviv University called on the schools to strip the Sackler name from research institutes. A 2018 lawsuit from the Massachusetts attorney general argued that Purdue Pharma used its influence at Tufts University and other schools to promote the company’s opioids.”

For the families who have lost loved ones to opioid overdose and to those who suffer the pain of addiction these may be considered baby steps. But we all know that baby steps are where everyone begins. Bigger, stronger steps are sure to follow.