There has been an increasingly high demand for psychologists and mental health services since the COVID-19 pandemic began because so many people have been experiencing lots of uncertainty and stress. Though this is a fact, it is also important for people to know that mental health issues are not the only problem on the rise since this pandemic. The truth is that more and more people are misusing opioids and stimulants since the pandemic began, and this creates a huge need for psychologists as well.
There have always been several risks associated with substance misuse, but recently there has been an even greater risk for people with substance use disorders or SUD. The greater risks are that the people with SUD have higher chances of developing COVID-19 and higher chances of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Surveys show that almost fifteen percent of Americans have started or increased their substance abuse or misuse since the spring of 2020 because it helped them to cope with stress and tough emotions that stem from this pandemic. Research also shows that there has been a rise in overdoses since 2020 in more than 40 states in America.
Experts state that things like a change in the availability of drugs could also be to blame for the rise in drug use and opioid deaths, but they also have little doubt that general anxiety, loneliness, and stress from the pandemic are a huge reason for this increase. The mandatory quarantines have made people feel more stressed and isolated, which then caused people to make more decisions that are unhealthy, like taking drugs and drinking alcohol. Another problem during the pandemic is the way people have not been able to participate in stress-relieving activities, including things that are physical and promote social interaction, because it has been stated to be unsafe.
Hospitals and treatment centers have also been overwhelmed, which means there have been lots of times that people were unable to access the care they needed. Fortunately, there has been increased availability of telemedicine for Americans, which includes physical and mental health services, virtual meetings for groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and previous telehealth restrictions on certain insurance being lifted, which is one big step toward society returning to normalcy as more people are finally getting the help they need.