COVID-19 Takes Toll on North Carolina Through Addiction, Mental Health

In North Carolina, like many parts of the country, the impact of COVID-19 has been so much more than the lockdowns. Addiction and mental health struggles have become more common. People have felt grief over the loss of loved ones, jobs, or simply the present or future they planned on living. Isolation has also taken a significant toll. For people with and without addiction, the costs have been great. Fatal overdoses between September 2019 and September 2020 reached a record, with over 81,000 deaths.

Synthetic Opioids Leading Cause of Overdose

The CDC points out that synthetic opioids, and more specifically, illicit fentanyl both on its own and in combination with other drugs, have been the leading cause of fatal overdose. Addiction has caused people to go to more sketchy sources in a country with so many restrictions. Overdoses from these drugs increased about 38% between June 2019 and May 2020, which shows that overdoses were rising before the pandemic but accelerated more rapidly as the pandemic continued.

NC's Suicide Rates and Addiction Deaths Not Yet Fully Measured

Suicides and drug or alcohol-related accidents and deaths are also expected to be up nationwide. The numbers are stalled due to the backlog in coroner offices.

Isolation and month of uncertainty, unemployment, and grief all have been taking a toll on America’s families. It will take a while, as things shift to a “new normal,” for the government to catch up with data and research.

In North Carolina, the preliminary numbers currently show North Carolina as having fewer overdoses than last year. Overdose ER visits rose as much as 23% in November 2020 versus the prior year. Anecdotally, people in the recovery community have described being devastated by the relapses, and overdoses, of loved ones or peers.

Getting Help For Addiction

Addiction is a disorder that affects your mind, body, and spirit. We offer Medication-Assisted Treatment for people with opioid use disorder and help them get the tools and support they need to transform their lives and thrive in recovery. Please get in touch to learn more about how we can help you or your loved one reclaim life. We’re here to provide compassionate, honest answers to your questions.