Addiction Recovery Weekly Roundup – April 4 Week

1.Coronavirus Crisis Spurs Access To Online Treatment For Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction isn’t taking a break during the coronavirus pandemic. But the U.S. response to the viral crisis is making addiction treatment easier to get. Under the national emergency declared by the Trump administration in March, the government has suspended a federal law that required patients to have an in-person visit with a physician before they could be prescribed drugs that help quell withdrawal symptoms, such as Suboxone. (npr.org)

2.Addiction in Isolation: Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s coronavirus podcast transcript for April 21

Social support systems are important for everyone but have an especially critical place in the lives of those struggling with substance abuse. CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the impact of the pandemic on people dealing with addiction. (edition.cnn.com)

3.Addicted Michigan: Surge in alcohol sales sparks concern among addiction experts

Data from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission reveals alcohol sales increased by 55% during the last week of March 2020 compared to the same week in March 2019. West Michigan addiction experts said the numbers are concerning. (wwmt.com)

4.Kansas City Support Groups For People With Addiction Adapt To Keep Focus On Recovery

After decades of in-person meetings in church basements and rec center backrooms, addiction support groups across the Kansas City area have been forced to transform by the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders.(kcur.org)

5. Austin Recovery Says It Can’t Afford To Keep Addiction Treatment Centers Open Because Of COVID-19

Austin Recovery, a nonprofit that’s provided substance abuse treatment in Central Texas since 1967, says it’s closing its doors because of the coronavirus.

In a letter to staff last week, Austin Recovery board members said the organization’s existing funding gaps were further widened because of the pandemic and that it had made the decision to discontinue its programs for inpatient and outpatient treatment for adults. (kut.org)