By Lisa Rapaport Alcohol-related mortality rates climbed most among individuals who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, followed by Black and Hispanic people, a new study finds. The surge in alcohol-related deaths during the peak months of the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionality hit certain racial and ethnic groups, including Black and Hispanic people[Read More…]
Tag: COVID-19
Buprenorphine deaths did not increase despite wider access during pandemic, study shows
By Lev Facher The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to a sea change in addiction medicine — in particular, increased access to buprenorphine, a drug commonly used to treat opioid use disorder. Now, new data show that despite the medication’s wider availability, deaths involving buprenorphine still constitute a small fraction[Read More…]
Overdose deaths spiked in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana during pandemic
Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio saw large increases in overdose deaths during 2020, according to estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kentucky had the largest percentage increase in overdose deaths, seeing a rise of 53%. These numbers have alarmed treatment advocates, who believe the COVID-19 pandemic played[Read More…]
‘My children love it:’ How a nonprofit is supporting children impacted by addiction
With drug overdoses on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, one family launched a new non-profit to support children impacted by addiction. The Savannah Smiles Foundation helps families find counseling and offers free art classes and activities for children in Kentucky and Indiana who have been impacted by a loved[Read More…]
US overdose deaths reach record high 93k during pandemic
It’s no secret that drug overdose deaths were at an all-time high during the COVID-19 pandemic, and new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proves it. Over 93,000 people died from reported drug overdoses in 2020 — a dramatic 29 percent increase in overdoses from 2019. Click[Read More…]
Through COVID-19 hardships, addiction recovery group meets again
The Louisville chapter of Young People in Recovery (YPR) recently met in-person for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. YPR is a national nonprofit with eight chapters in Kentucky. Read the full story here.
‘Off The Charts’ Rise In Alcoholic Liver Disease Among Young Women
Historically, liver disease primarily impacted older men. But over the last several years, doctors say they’ve seen a sharp increase in liver disease, caused by excessive drinking, among younger women under the age of 40. And with alcohol use on the rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this shift is becoming[Read More…]
WKYT Investigates: Drinking in the pandemic
One year into the pandemic, researchers at the University of Kentucky say they’re seeing a rise in alcohol use and stress among caregivers, according to WKYT’s Kristen Kennedy. And, because women often serve as the primary caregivers in their households, the sex gap between men and women struggling with alcohol[Read More…]
Kentucky among top states where overdose deaths have spiked during COVID-19 pandemic
Deborah Yetter at the Courier-Journal reports that drug overdoses in Kentucky rose by 50 percent between September 2019 and September 2020. During the same timeframe, drug overdose deaths increased nationwide by nearly 30 percent. Treatment providers and recovery advocates point to job loss and pandemic-related stress and anxieties. According to[Read More…]
Hospital Emergency Rooms Struggle With Overdose Spike During Pandemic
New research from the CDC shows that patients experiencing drug-related crises continued to visit hospital emergency rooms, even while others avoided the ER due to fears over the coronavirus. In an interview with NPR, CDC researcher Kristin Holland said that “people are indeed experiencing poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and[Read More…]