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accessHealthNews.net
December 2021
Volume 8 | Issue No. 52
"As someone who has lost a family member to substance use, I constantly
questioned why someone would continue to put themselves and others through the
pain of addiction and its consequences and eventually assumed it to be personal.
Unlearning the stigmas I knew surrounding substance use and addiction,
particularly opioid use in my experience, was necessary to my own grieving and
healing process as well as eventually assisting others in their recovery.
This article was originally published in May 2021.
E
arly months of the COVID-19 pandemic
brought an 18% increase nationwide in
substance use overdoses compared with
the same months in 2019. A year after the
initial outbreak, substance use has continued
to increase due to pandemic-related
stress including financial instability, job loss,
homelessness, and isolation. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
found 13% of Americans reported starting or
increasing substance use to cope with stress or
emotions related to COVID-19.
A WalletHub study examining national drug
abuse, rehab, and arrest data scored Missouri
with the overall worst drug problem. The study
considered 22 metrics and focused on three
main data categories: drug use and addiction,
law enforcement issues, and drug health issues
and rehab. In these areas, Missouri scored
18th in drug use and addiction, 1st in law
enforcement issues, and 16th in lack of health
support and rehab opportunities. The Pitch KC
has a breakdown of the study here.
Along with substance use concerns, Missouri
has seen a rise in symptoms of anxiety and
depressive disorder in adults. In October
2020, 38.6% of adults in Missouri reported
these symptoms compared to 37.7% of adults
nationally. These Missouri adults (27.3%) also
reported needing counseling or therapy
but not receiving it within the last month,
compared to the U.S. average (22.5%). As
Americans nationwide are desperately
searching for mental health services and
emotional relief, providers are becoming
overwhelmed and are struggling to keep up
with demand.
The rise of substance use and the opioid
epidemic, as well as increased reports of
mental health symptoms, are national health
concerns. However, these sensitive topics carry
stigmas which can interfere with the motivation
to seek or receive treatment. Individuals
struggling with substance use disorder (SUD)
and addiction face negative judgements
regarding their circumstance, behavior, or
appearance.
However, these factors are often a product of
or influenced by their struggle with substances.
SUD and addiction also co-occur with mental
health issues; if someone needs treatment
for one, they will likely require treatment for
the other. For people who use substances or
face mental health issues, harsh judgements
or assumptions from family, peers, providers,
and others can cause shame and distrust
and may prevent someone from seeking
help or continuing treatment. Understanding
substance use and addiction as a disease,
rather than a personal failure, is necessary to
breaking down stigmas surrounding substance
use in health care.
THE TOLL SUBSTANCE USE TAKES
I lost my oldest sister to complications from
opioid use seven years ago. Because of
the stigma surrounding drug use in our rural
hometown and the strains put on our family
due to her addiction, I have only just begun to
grapple with my grief surrounding her loss.
