Addiction During the COVID-19 Pandemic — Effects, Warning Signs, & Challenges

By Amy Matton

At some point in their lives, about 10% of Americans will experience drug addiction. This disease makes you feel unable to control your drug use despite negative consequences.

Like many other diseases, addiction worsens in times of stress. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous people have developed new or more intense addictions.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Addiction
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stress ranks among the most common causes of drug abuse and addiction. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a number of significant stressors.

For example, social distancing guidelines have left many individuals lonely and isolated. Unable to connect face to face with loved ones, some people turn to heavy drinking or other forms of alcohol abuse.

Social distancing also poses serious risks for people recovering from addiction. To stay sober, many people rely on support groups, accountability partners, and friends and family. Thus, isolation increases their risk of relapse.

Other pandemic-related stressors that can lead to drug abuse and addiction include the following:

unemployment and financial troubles;
uncertainty about the future; and
loved ones falling ill or dying.

Abusing drugs may temporarily ease the pain of these stressors. In most cases, though, it will also cause or worsen addiction.

It also raises your risk of overdose. Between September 2019 and September 2020, more than 87,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, a record number for the country. The largest spike occurred between March and May 2020, when the pandemic first started.

How Addiction Affects COVID-19
As with many other medical conditions, drug addiction can increase the risk of developing COVID-19.

According to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, people who’d been diagnosed with drug addiction at some point in their lives were 1.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 than other people.

They also faced a higher risk of hospitalization (41% vs. 30%) and death (9.6% vs. 6.6%) from COVID-19.

These findings reflect the fact that most illegal drugs wreak havoc on human health, increasing susceptibility to serious illness and death. For instance, opioids can slow breathing and decrease oxygen in the blood, while stimulants such as meth and cocaine can damage the lungs.

Similarly, smoking or vaping any drug can worsen preexisting lung conditions, while injection increases the risk of HIV and other diseases that weaken the immune system.

Warning Signs of Addiction
The two most common signs of addiction are tolerance and physical dependence. Tolerance means that over time, increased or more frequent amounts of a drug are required to experience the previous results.

Physical dependence means the body relies on the drug to function normally. If use is discontinued, withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, or fatigue may result. Specific withdrawal symptoms depend upon the individual’s body and the drug(s) used.

Other signs of addiction include the following:

mood swings;
lack of motivation;
trouble maintaining relationships;
loss of interest in activities once enjoyed;
falling behind at work or school;
changes in appetite and/or sleeping patterns;
sudden change in energy level;
sudden change in weight;
larger or smaller pupils;
decline in personal hygiene;
frequently borrowing or stealing money; and
feeling unable to stop using drugs despite wanting to.

Treatment Challenges During COVID-19
To recover from drug or alcohol addiction, most people need professional treatment.

Some require inpatient treatment; they live at the treatment center and receive 24/7 care. Others choose outpatient treatment, meaning they regularly attend the treatment center while living at home.

Whether inpatient or outpatient, an addiction treatment program likely includes services such as the following:

medical detox, which involves 24/7 medical supervision and a gradual weaning off drugs;
therapy, which can help identify triggers for drug use and promote healthy coping skills, such as journaling, meditation, and exercise; and
support groups, where patients can connect with other people who are recovering from drug addiction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many treatment centers, support groups, and other recovery-focused organizations suspended in-person services due to social distancing concerns. They instead provided virtual treatment via computer or phone.

Some people find virtual treatment helpful. Others, especially those with more severe addictions or co-occurring mental health disorders, find it lacks the level of connection they need to fully recover.

Fortunately, many addiction treatment centers have resumed in-person services.

For those in need, virtual and in-person treatment options are available via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Locator.

— Amy Matton is a content writer for Ark Behavioral Health. She strives to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and other mental health conditions.

Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19 and People Who Use Drugs or Have Substance Use Disorder

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Increase in Fatal Drug Overdoses Across the United States Driven by Synthetic Opioids Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

National Institute on Drug Abuse: COVID-19 & Substance Use

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts

National Institutes of Health: 10 percent of US adults have drug use disorder at some point in their lives

National Institutes of Health: Substance use disorders linked to COVID-19 susceptibility