COVID-19 is setting back recovery from opioid addiction
Efforts to treat drug dependence have been scaled back during the pandemic. (Amixstudio/Deposit Photos/)Melissa Cyders is an associate professor of psychology, IUPUI. Kevin L. Ladd is a professor at Indiana University. Melissa S. Fry is the directo of Applied Research and Education Center at Indiana University. This story originally featured on The Conversation.The closures of businesses and states throughout the US due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been stressful, costly, and challenging for many.But the restrictions don’t affect everyone equally. Particularly vulnerable are those with substance-use disorders. With schedules disrupted, medical and psychological care curtailed and support networks shut down, the COVID-19 pandemic may jeopardize their recovery.The COVID-19 pandemic comes on the coattails of the US opioid epidemic. Between 1998 and 2018, about 450,000 people died from opioid overdose.Progress was being made until COVID-19 appeared. Those of us who work in the field of substance-use disorders became concerned for those...