“You wouldn’t stop halfway to your destination and I wouldn’t want people to stop halfway to their recovery," said Todd Cordisco with SalusCare.
Social distancing has forced meetings and therapy sessions to change which could be detrimental for anyone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.
Todd Cordisco said continuing to help people struggling with mental health and addiction through the pandemic is a top priority at SalusCare.
Many in recovery use activities like the gym or fishing as outlets, but social distancing is making that more difficult. However, the center is working around those guidelines to help keep people on track with their sobriety.
“We’ve gone totally remote and we’re providing outpatient therapy and outpatient psychiatry through the zoom app.”
In addition to the zoom meetings, the center is continuing inpatient care. They will also be holding open meetings starting next week which are free to anyone who needs help. You don't have to be a patient to join the meeting.
The need for meetings like this are greater than what some may think. A recent study by JAMA Psychiatry warned about a potential spike in overdoses and suicides because of self-isolation measures. Researchers found over 139 million people admitted to abusing alcohol in 2018, and almost 32 million who used illicit drugs.
Despite those numbers, Cordisco said people seem to adapting well and taking advantage of their groups, and a majority of the success is thanks to technology.
“That’s why we have these services and we’ll continue that though remotely, we’re grateful to have these services and grafted our patients will continue to use them.”
