Is 2021 Going to See an Increased Need for Rehabilitation and Family Intervention?

The treatment gap in the United States is quite large, per the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The strategies used to increase access to effective treatment involve achieving insurance parity, reducing stigma, and raising awareness of both patients and healthcare professionals of the value of addiction treatment. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among people aged 12 or older, only 1.5% received any substance use treatment in the past year. This percentage in 2019 was similar to the percentage in each year from 2015 to 2018.

The ongoing pandemic and its effects on people across the United States and the rest of the world has caused an increased need for treatment and family intervention. The constant stress, job loss, and financial struggle have placed a significant strain on individuals and families. People across the United States, for example, have struggled to keep their businesses open, and problems with addiction are on the rise. According to EHS Today (Environment, Health, and Safety), reports show a resurgence in opioid use in the wake of widespread unemployment and traumatic isolation caused by lockdowns.

Surveys done by the Centers for Disease Control, as cited in this report, shows three times more people are struggling with anxiety, and four times more people were struggling with depression. The CDC also reported that 13.3% of respondents reported starting or increasing substance abuse. In addition, more than twice as many respondents reported serious consideration of suicide in the previous 30 days. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported that border restrictions linked to the pandemic have already caused shortages of drugs on the street, leading to increased prices and reduced purity.

Rehabilitation Centers and Interventionists are Doing What They Can

The pandemic has been a significant contributor to the increase in substance abuse and addiction problems. Treatment centers have had to adapt, while some have struggled to maintain funding to keep their doors open. Support groups like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous have had to completely rethink how people meet. Isolation and social distancing became dangerous for people in recovery and for people who abuse drugs or alcohol.

The need for treatment will increase over the next year, and many families will start to seek help from professional interventionists. Getting an addict to commit to treatment is not easy and involves a carefully planned family intervention. The best way to organize an intervention is by hiring a professional interventionist. Family intervention helps with addressing underlying issues, old family arguments, issues with enabling, and co-dependency.

Family Intervention and Taking the First Step

It is never too late to plan and organize a family intervention, and a family should not wait for the addict to be ready to accept help. Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol continues to abuse these substances despite the consequences. However, an intervention can motivate someone to seek help for alcohol or drug misuse. It is challenging to help a loved one struggling with any addiction. The person with the addiction often struggles to see it and acknowledge they have a problem.

People who struggle with addiction are often in denial and unwilling to seek help. An intervention is a carefully planned process, but the family must take the first step and contact a professional interventionist. Professional interventionists are qualified and trained to help guide a family through the process and ensure their loved ones receive the treatment they need. It will not surprise the industry that more people will need help in 2021. However, the services are there, and there are dedicated people to help people struggling with addiction, those in recovery, and their families.

Newman Interventions provides intervention services to families around the country.

Sources:

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 29 May. 2020:  “How do we get more substance-abusing people into treatment?.”
• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/how-do-we-get-more-substance-abusing-people-treatment
• https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29393/2019NSDUHFFRPDFWHTML/2019NSDUHFFR1PDFW090120.pdf
• https://www.ehstoday.com/covid19/article/21139889/drug-abuse-on-the-rise-because-of-the-coronavirus
• https://www.unodc.org/unodc/press/releases/2020/June/media-advisory---global-launch-of-the-2020-world-drug-report.html

Sources Referenced:

• https://qz.com/1900954/covid-19-is-destroying-addiction-treatment-centers/
• https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-12/issue-brief-increases-in-opioid-related-overdose.pdf
• https://www.healthline.com/health-news/coronavirus-isolation-can-be-difficult-for-people-with-addictions