Halting the Rise of Addiction due to the COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant challenges for us all, including home quarantine, reduced contact with close friends and family, job losses, financial anxiety, and a relentless stream of fear-inducing news. The combination of anxiety, financial pressure, isolation and boredom can lead people with addiction issues to experience increased cravings and to return to addictive behavior patterns. Moreover, these challenging circumstances promote the development of use disorders in the general population, and compound the negative impact of addiction on family life. Recent reports indicate a marked increase in substance abuse, domestic violence, loneliness and anxiety – all of which are factors known to be related to addiction.