Covid-19 has been and continues to be, a massive existential threat to addicts around the world. As many doctors and health ministries have noted, those suffering from addiction are both more likely to catch the virus and more likely to experience severe symptoms if they are infected. There are a variety of factors contributing to this, mainly what the American CDC refers to as “social determinants of health”, which include living and working conditions, diet, and environment. Simply put, the addicted are substantially more likely to be poor, homeless, under-nourished, un- or under-insured, suffering from pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, and facing a variety of social and economic barriers to effective prevention and treatment. As the first wave of Covid-19 infections begins to dissipate and societies take the first, tentative steps towards re-opening, what can addicts do to reclaim their health and regain control over their lives?
New Pathways To Wellness
As social distancing guidelines, lockdowns, and overwhelmed healthcare systems have limited the treatment options available to those suffering from Substance Use Disorders, telehealth and telemedicine (telemedicine is the clinical use of technology, while telehealth is somewhat broader and can include products and services aimed directly at consumers) options have been promoted as a safe alternative to conventional treatments.
Online video therapy and counselling services, like those offered here at Tabula Rasa Retreat, have taken great strides in recent months, offering the support and interventions addicts observing social distancing guidelines so desperately need. Studies have shown that these options can (and often do) lead to positive outcomes. According to a review of the available literature published by Hazelden Betty Ford, studies have demonstrated that these programs result in “reduced alcohol consumption… reduced depression, increased patient satisfaction, increase in accessibility, increased quality of life, and decreased cost.” Simply put, remote treatment has been an invaluable lifeline to many of those suffering.
Studies performed in the US and Canada on pairing telemedicine with buprenorphine treatment also reported largely successful outcomes. Studies conducted in rural Maryland and West Virginia found that, respectively, 94% of patients were no longer using illicit opioids after 90 days, and that there was no statistical difference in the success of buprenorphine maintenance programs conducted face-to-face and via telemedicine. The Canadian study concluded that “ one year of buprenorphine or methadone therapy via telemedicine was strongly correlated with improved physical and mental health and reduced illicit drug use, relapse, hospitalization, mortality, and illegal activity.”
Telehealth has also been a godsend for addicts struggling with isolation, as 12-step meetings have largely shifted online. As one expert notes, “These services, even though they might not be 100% ideal, are just so essential.” Sound, a provider of mental health and addiction services in the Seattle area, has reported a 100% increase in the number of those reaching out for help since the COVID-19 outbreak. The ease and sense of anonymity that online treatment provides may make it easier for some to engage with treatment, while the stresses the pandemic is causing lead to increased substance use. Call volume at SAMHSA’s helpline experienced an 891% jump in the volume of calls this March compared to March of last year. If you’re struggling to keep your substance use under control or maintain your sobriety, you are certainly not alone.
David Newman, a program manager at Sound, reports that the telephone remains a valuable tool for providing treatment and support: “While we have Skype for Business, many of our clients are living in tents. They may be sleeping on somebody’s couch. They may not have access to the technology we do. It’s much more likely that they’ll have phone communication.” At Tabula Rasa Retreat, we share in this commitment to being here 24 hours a day, every single day in order to provide care and support to those who need it most. We’ve doubled up on our weekly sessions of Ibogaine Recovery Movement online meetings, and we have a staff member ready to pick up the phone and provide information, counsel, and support whenever you need it.
Accessing Inpatient Treatment
In the US, SAMHSA has requested that treatment centers transition as many patients as possible from in-patient to out-patient methods of care. While this won’t affect outcomes for everyone, certain at-risk groups will be hit particularly hard by the lack of residential treatment beds. The homeless, those with unstable home lives, victims of domestic abuse, and toxic family dynamics face almost insurmountable barriers in battling addiction while navigating treacherous environments.
For those who manage to gain admittance into a residential facility, the realities of treatment have been dramatically altered. Rather than warm and friendly greetings, those entering treatment are met with face masks, hand sanitizers, detailed questionnaires on where they’ve been, and mandatory periods of quarantine. Centers are scrambling to find nearby housing options that can be used for quarantining patients prior to admittance. Many facilities are also attempting to move all activities that can reasonably be transferred online into the digital realm. This includes doctor’s visits, counseling sessions, 12-step meetings, and various other activities.
Choosing the right treatment center has become more important than ever before during this trying time. A facility that takes the appropriate precautions puts thought and care into re-imagining its protocols and procedures, and continues to offer effective care can save your life. More than ever before, you are putting your life and health into the hands of the practitioners who will guide you through this process, so make sure that you take time, ask hard questions, and carefully consider a provider’s ability to keep you safe when you weigh your options.
At Tabula Rasa Retreat, we’re confident in the detailed plan we’ve prepared for safely accepting new clients during the pandemic and in its immediate aftermath. All of our clients are tested multiple times, quarantined for the period before intake, and monitored for any symptoms of the virus. Our staff has been trained to do everything possible to maintain a safe environment where healing can occur. While there is currently a risk inherent in any social activity, we’re confident that offering desperately needed treatment to one of society’s most vulnerable groups is exactly the right thing to be doing at this moment. If you are ready to break free from your addiction and regain your health as we emerge from isolation, get in touch with us today!
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530