Illinois is experiencing both an opioid overdose epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers of fatal opioid overdoses have increased since 2019 with treatment and harm reduction services complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this publication is to provide a brief update on the state of the opioid epidemic in Illinois during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 fatality data are provisional, and numbers may change as cases are reviewed and only available through the third quarter of 2020.
The findings from a national sample of adolescents and young adults show that electronic cigarette use and dual use of electronic cigarettes and cigarettes are significant underlying risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019. Health care providers, parents, schools, community-based organizations, and policymakers must help make youth aware of the connection between smoking and vaping and coronavirus disease.
According to a recent report published by the University of Baltimore’s Center for Drug Policy and Enforcement, drug overdoses spiked 18% in the United States in the first two months after pandemic stay-at-home orders began in mid-March.
The following article published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, provides resources and support for those who may be struggling with various substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The National Institute on Drug Abuse has put together information on the potential implications of this pandemic on those who struggle with substance use disorder. The social distancing that is required during this COVID-19 outbreak has put a strain on families impacted by addiction. Self-imposed isolation can disconnect us from the very tools that keep us resilient and strong, making us vulnerable to fear.”
