While Country Braces for Coronavirus, Now Is the Time to Get Well If you are Struggling with Addiction

Woman is running

Like many others, I have been following the news closely as we enter unprecedented times with the World Health Organization recently naming the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. Government officials are scrambling to help prevent the spread of the virus, from outlawing large gatherings to closing businesses and schools to releasing disinfecting health tips for citizens. One thing that has been consistent in the news is that elderly people, those with underlying health problems, and those who have a compromised immune system have higher chances of getting sick and dying. The people that fit into those categories are encouraged to take extra precautions and preventative measures.

That got me thinking, what about the drug addict? The addict who can’t seem to get well due to a lack of quality sleep or vitamin and mineral deficiencies caused by drug abuse? It seems to me that an addict who hasn’t slept or eaten well in days would absolutely check off both boxes when it comes to an underlying health problem and a compromised immune system. I thought back to my days as an addict and how everything made me feel sick. Drug abuse undoubtedly compromises the body which got me thinking further, if ever an addict needed the right push to make the decision to go get well and handle their addiction, now is as good a time as any.

For the addict continuing to suffer from their addiction, I will always encourage them to find any and all motivation necessary to begin taking the first steps towards recovery and seeking treatment. Why not now? As people all over the world focus on their health and take preventative measures to combat the spread of a virus nobody can see, addiction is a condition that absolutely can be identified, treated, and recovered from. The fact that getting healthy and regaining your life back also gives you the best chance against this pandemic is simply a bonus.

As I’ve written before, the time to handle your addiction will always be now. Whether we are dealing with a worldwide health scare or not, the difference in the quality of life abusing drugs as an addict vs. leaving that lifestyle behind and finding the peace that comes once recovered lacks a fair comparison. In all of my experience with addiction and those that have found a life beyond the drugs, I have yet to talk to one person who felt their life was better wasting away as an addict than it is after recovery has been achieved. While that part is something I wholeheartedly believe in, convincing an addict who is knee-deep in their addiction of this isn’t always easy.

That’s why I bring this up as an extra motivator because whatever gets your foot in the door with a willingness to accept help is fine by me. The Coronavirus may be what is currently in the news and while I understand the precautions being taken and the need to stop the spread as quickly as possible, addiction continues its wrath and ability to take lives in an instant. If you are simultaneously struggling with addiction and worried about the Coronavirus, do the best thing you can for your life and your health and please reach out.

AUTHOR

Justin

Justin has been working in the field of addiction and recovery for over 1 year. Justin earned his Bachelors's Degree in Finance from Florida State University. Having been an addict himself, he brings real-world experience to the table when helping addicts and their families, while also offering a first-person perspective to the current drug crisis. Justin is passionate about educating the public about what’s currently going on in our society, and thankfully, offers practical solutions.

NARCONON SUNCOAST

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION