How the recovery community is surviving the pandemic
According to the National Institutes of Health, people with substance use disorders have a higher chance of poor COVID-19 outcomes.
Over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020 — the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period. That’s according to recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Also in that report: 37 of the 38 U.S. jurisdictions with available synthetic opioid data reported increases in synthetic opioid-involved overdose deaths; 18 of these jurisdictions reported increases greater than 50 percent.
And people in recovery are grappling with new stressors that can make avoiding relapse even more challenging. Isolation, financial worries, family strife and other pandemic-related concerns can complicate recovery for anyone. But for communities of color, it can be particularly intense.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
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Angela Davis speaks with experts about the impact of the pandemic on the recovery community in Minnesota.
Guests:
Wendy Jones is the executive director of the Minnesota Recovery Connection, a nonprofit organization that works to increase access to support, care and resources needed to achieve long-term recovery from substance use disorder.
Lynn Mykytyn is a licensed mental health and addictions counselor and founder of Sando Wellness and Counseling.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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