Council on Substance Abuse looks to help fill need during COVID-19 isolation

by IAG Staff | Mar 25, 2020

All of us appreciate the “before time,” when social distancing was not a phrase on everyone’s lips and we could go to the mall or the movies without having a thought about getting sick from the person six feet away from you. For some people however, that before time of being able to be close to people was a literal life-saver. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in a small room during a meeting is now a health hazard, but for the many thousands of people across the country who attend addiction and recovery meetings, it was one of the keys for their health.

The economy is slipping, businesses are lagging and meeting rooms – for Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other groups – all over the country are shuttered. One meeting house in Sandy Springs, colloquially known as 8111, normally hosts more than 50 meetings a week. Keeping sobriety in the best of times is difficult for some people; during an economic crunch without the normal support structure that means so much for so many? It may be quite difficult.

Jeff Breedlove is the Chief of Communications and Policy for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA). Breedlove knows personally the power of recovery and has been advocating as best as possible for resources and awareness of this issue during this time.

“The immediate medical issues of COVID-19 are evident – and they are priority number one,” said Breedlove. “However, as the amount of time COVID-19 impacts and alters the way people interact and society functions, challenges for people relative to addiction recovery and mental health begin to emerge.”

The key to combatting COVID-19, social distancing and isolation, are the very behaviors that addicts try to avoid because they may lead to unfortunate outcomes. “Prolonged isolation can exacerbate the stress and anxiety for individuals who are in or seeking recovery, and we could very well experience new cases of active addiction from people who experience trauma associated with COVID-19.”

The GCSA, the official and only statewide Recovery Community Organization (RCO), is working with our partners at the Georgia Department of Developmental Health and Disabilities(DBHDD) to support the over 800,000 people in recovery across Georgia.

Breedlove and the GCSA are working hard to deliver the resources they can for those who need it. The CARES Warm Line, a service staffed by peers and recovery coaches, is open for calls from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day. It is free, confidential and available to anyone who has questions about addiction or recovery – 844-326-5400.

The GCSA is also offering a FREE and confidential series of virtual All Recovery Meetings for those who want to stay connected during the COVID-19 national emergency.

To learn more about the GCSA and find the most up-to-date meeting times and more information, social media is the most frequently updated.

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