Columbus Drug Overdoses & COVID-19

Dependancy has ravaged the state of Ohio together with the Columbus metro space. Statewide, overdose deaths lastly began to drop in 2018 after years of regular will increase and a giant effort from public well being officers and personal organizations alike.¹ Sadly in Franklin County, residence to metro Columbus, this was not the case.

Columbus Drug Overdoses Pre-Pandemic

Whereas the state might have been making some progress, the Columbus space was nonetheless struggling. For a number of years, the variety of unintentional drug overdose deaths in Franklin County continued to extend.

In 2012 to 2019, the county noticed will increase from 191 deaths to 547 deaths a yr.¹ That is in tandem with the alarming 584% enhance in residents who died from an unintentional overdose from 2003 to 2017.² Not surprisingly, a big majority of those overdose have been from opioids because the opioid epidemic in Columbus continues.

The Influence of COVID-19 on Columbus Overdoses

Whereas 2020 may have been an excellent turning level, the COVID-19 pandemic modified every little thing. Companies have been pressured to shut their doorways, lockdowns have been put in place, and folks have been inspired to remain residence. Because of this, as a substitute of probably seeing some progress, the variety of drug overdoses in Columbus through the pandemic elevated drastically.

From January 2020 to June 2020, overdose deaths in Franklin County elevated by nearly 75% from the identical time interval in 2019. As a complete, the month of Might in Ohio was additionally the deadliest month on report for drug overdoses.³ Whereas pandemic drug overdose deaths in Columbus and the state might have peaked earlier within the yr, these excessive numbers continued all through 2020. By the tip of September, the variety of drug overdose deaths in Franklin County for 2020 outpaced the yr earlier than by 45%.⁴

The town of Columbus wasn’t alone in these alarming will increase through the pandemic. Sadly, this kind of lack of life was a nationwide development. The pandemic led to isolation, nervousness, despair, and strained many individuals’s psychological well being. As a result of poor psychological well being is commonly tied to substance misuse, this may occasionally have led to a rise in drug use. One other issue which will have led to the rise is boredom. With stay-at-home orders, social distancing guidelines, and many individuals out of a job, some folks had nothing higher to do however to get excessive. Those who dwell alone additionally had nobody there to name for assist if issues went south.

For many who already obtained dependancy remedy in Franklin County, staying sober grew to become a lot tougher. Many individuals in restoration depend on the assist of others, however the pandemic restricted social interplay and human contact. This lack of in-person assist might have led to relapse and overdose.

Whereas vaccines proceed to be administered, it doesn’t imply that the affect of the pandemic disappears. In case you or somebody you’re keen on is battling drug use, the time is now to get assist. Our Franklin County behavioral well being heart affords versatile remedy choices to assist folks overcome their addictions and begin shifting on with their lives, previous the pandemic.

Though we’re taking each precaution and comply with CDC pointers, in case you are not snug with in-person care but, we do supply digital dependancy remedy as properly. Don’t wait one other day to get again on the trail towards restoration. Give us a name to get began.