Wayne State University issued the following announcement on Aug. 6.
As the coronavirus consumes much of the world’s attention, health care issues that existed prior to the outbreak haven’t politely receded to the shadows. On the contrary, the opioid epidemic has been exacerbated by the pandemic and its massive social and financial ramifications.
According to data released in July by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, there were 3,756 EMS responses for probable opioid overdoses in the state from April through June of this year, compared to 2,994 during the same period last year. What’s more, emergency department visits for opioid overdose from April to May of this year — as the coronavirus took hold in Michigan — increased by 42%.
“The opioid epidemic and the coronavirus pandemic are colliding,” said Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice Victoria Tutag Lehr of the Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “We’re faced with significant stressors ranging from people losing their jobs to anxiety and depression exacerbated by isolation.”
Original source can be found here.
Source: Wayne State University
Alerts Sign-up