“My mother was ill and she died when I was 15,” Platt told Fox News. “I started using medication because I had a lot of resentment towards God, life and people.”
Adam Platt began his battle with opioids in his teenage years. In March, Adam Platt came to Fresh Start Ministries in Central Florida. He believes that his battle against addiction would have been much harder if he had been completely outside the world during the pandemic (Robert Sherman Fox News).
Adam Platt began his battle with opioids in his teens. In March, Adam Platt visited the New Start Ministries of Central Florida. Looking back, he thinks that if he had been completely outside during the pandemic his battle against habit would have been much more difficult (Robert Sherman of Fox Information).
Platt acknowledges that he still has more to learn, but he feels much more responsible for his life than he used to a few months ago.
Platt is not the only one in this battle. In 2018, the Substance Abuse and Psychological Health Services Administration’s latest survey results revealed that more than 20,000,000 people in the U.S. needed substance abuse treatment. In the same year, the Centers for Illness Management and Prevention reported some progress as drug overdoses dropped by 4 percent.
Consultants predict that 2020 will be even worse. While thousands of People are still unemployed, and thousands more have spent the last few months quarantining or isolating themselves due to coronaviruses, places like Recent Start Ministries of Central Florida in Orlando have seen an increase of drug abuse cases and relapses.
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Joe Cordovano, co-founder of Govt and director at the company, says that turning to medicine is a common way for people to escape the stress in their lives which was amplified during the pandemic.
Cordovano told Fox Information that it’s “as if two epidemics collided.” “You can lump together all of these [sources] and then shoot up, smoke or do whatever you want, the world will disappear for a while.”
Isolated on a white background, a bottle with the generic name of hydrocodone (the drug sold by different pharmaceutical companies under various names) and tablets of hydrocodone spilling out. Hydrocodone, a semi-synthetic prescription opioid used to treat moderate and severe pain, is very popular. Hydrocodone has been dubbed one of the most popular prescription recreational drugs in America.
On a white background, a bottle with hydrocodone tablets and labelled hydrocodone (generic name for the drug sold under different names by various pharmaceutical companies) spills out. Hydrocodone, a semi-synthetic prescription opioid, is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Hydrocodone has been dubbed one of the most popular leisure pharmaceuticals in America.
It’s the same story across the country. While it will take some time to finalize the statistics, Dr. Nora Volkow of the Nationwide Institute on Drug Abuse told Fox Information that drug overdoses had increased anywhere between 30 and 40 percent since the initial outbreak.
Volkow said that there are reports of more people dying from drug overdoses. “[There is] evidence that people who were in recovery are now relapsing.” Some people have used more medication after COVID.
As social beings that struggle with addiction and the stress of our current world, Volkow said that isolation is harmful to people.
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Volkow said that social isolation was one of the factors that increased the likelihood for someone to take medicine. If you are trying to achieve recovery, social isolation can increase the likelihood that you will relapse. It’s because we depend so much on others to feel good.
In the meantime, Volkow said that close family members and buddies can also assist the situation by making it an aim to reach out to each other and keep them closed, even if they are near.
Finding a skilled assistant can be important.
“Reach out for help. You can seek help for depression. You’ve had suicidal thoughts. You’re fighting a habit and you feel like you’re losing the battle. Search assistance.”
The pandemic also has a second disadvantage in the fight against habit: some people who are currently in need of help are reluctant to accept it.
Cordovano said that many people who need help are not getting it because they’re scared of the coronavirus. He says that since the pandemic the phone has rung almost constantly in search of treatment, but getting people to commit because they live with others is difficult.
Fresh Start Ministries of Central Florida has a waiting list of people seeking addiction treatment. For the first time since years, there are vacancies within their program. The Executive Director said it is difficult for those in need of help to commit to their program, as they are afraid to contract COVID-19. (Robert Sherman Fox News).
Recently Begin Ministries of Central Florida are often full of people seeking therapy for addiction. For the first time in many years, there are vacancies within their program. The Government Director states that it’s difficult to convince those who need help to choose this system, as they are afraid of contracting COVID-19. (Robert Sherman Fox Information).
Cordovano stated that it is the first time in many years that the program of Recent Start Ministries of Central Florida had any vacancies. He stated that the center attracts individuals from all over the country and is often booked with a lengthy waiting list.
He said that digital chats or coverings are not the most efficient way to serve someone who is battling a habit.
Cordovano said, “We as recovering addicts need to be held accountable by our peers.” “It’s different when I speak to them via a camera and tell them ‘hey, do the right thing’.”
Platt did not know in March how the stress of the outside world would affect his fight with addiction. He had enrolled anyway, but now he could be thankful to be in treatment rather than completely outside the world.
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“If I was on the market, it would be a lot harder with COVID,” said Platt. “The relationships that I have here are helping me to get via the difficult occasions.”
Robert Sherman, a multi-media reporter based in Orlando Florida, joined Fox News in 2019.
