Pandemic Side Effects: Addiction

Pandemic Side Effects: Addiction

This blog post is adapted from a paper written by UsagiMed’s Lynn Hubbard.

Pandemic Side Effects: Addiction

The prolonged uncertainty and anxiety drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in substance and alcohol abuse, with the CDC reporting in June 2020 that 13% of Americans claim starting substance use as a way of coping with emotional weight related to COVID-19. While COVID-19 cases in the U.S. seem to be dropping, the aftermath of the pandemic still impacts us, especially those struggling with addiction. From closed businesses to lost loved-ones, substance abuse is another far-reaching effect of COVID-19 that has changed lives across the United States.

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