Change is hard. It’s human nature to want to put off tasks that require a monumental change in your lifestyle—even when you know it would be in your best interest to take that first step. However, there’s no reason to let COVID-19 fears keep you from seeking drug or alcohol addiction treatment at Waypoint Recovery Center’s South Carolina residential program.
Risk Is Relative
COVID-19 is a serious public health threat, but the vast majority of people who are infected will only have mild to moderate symptoms and will make a full recovery within two to three weeks. In comparison, addiction is a devastating illness that will wreak havoc on your life until you get the help you need. Even if you believe you’re functioning pretty well at the moment, your symptoms will get progressively worse. Washing your hands and practicing social distancing will help keep you safe from COVID-19, but the only way to deal with a substance use disorder is to seek evidence-based drug and alcohol addiction treatment from experienced professionals.
Delaying treatment for drug or alcohol addiction puts you at risk of experiencing a wide range of negative consequences. You might go to the doctor and learn you’ve done permanent damage to your liver, heart, lungs, or kidneys. You could get arrested for drunk driving or drug possession. You might lose your job or struggle to pay your bills because you’re spending all of your disposable income on drugs and alcohol. Your spouse might leave because the strain of being married to someone with an addiction who refuses to get help is just too much to take. In the absolute worst-case scenario, you could suffer a fatal overdose.
When you’re debating what poses the most risk to your long-term health and wellbeing, there’s no contest. Untreated addiction is the greater danger.
We Don’t Know How Long the Pandemic Will Last
Public health experts are continually taking steps to slow the spread of coronavirus, and researchers are working day and night to create a vaccine. However, there is still much we don’t know about the virus. Infection outbreaks could continue to be a problem for quite some time.
If there’s one thing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 outbreak has taught us, it’s that life is precious. You deserve to be happy, healthy, and living each day to the fullest. Delaying substance abuse treatment indefinitely only robs you of the opportunity to take control of your mental health, improve your relationships with your loved ones, and figure out what you want your future to look like.
Treatment Will Boost Your Immune System
At Waypoint Recovery Center, we take a holistic approach to recovery. We encourage clients to develop a wellness-focused lifestyle that incorporates a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, regular exercise, and stress-relieving hobbies. These healthy habits help to stabilize your mood and make it easier to control cravings for drugs and alcohol. However, they also have the added benefit of strengthening your immune system.
It takes time to repair the effects of past substance abuse, but the wellness-focused lifestyle you begin to develop during your time in treatment will set you on the right path. Every day you’re sober and committed to recovery, your body will be better able to fight infections of any type.
Rehabs Are Considered Essential Businesses
Even when a stay-at-home order is in place, rehabs are considered essential businesses that are allowed to remain in operation. South Carolina government officials recognize that addiction is a serious illness in need of professional medical care.
Waypoint Recovery Center will remain open for business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are closely monitoring all coronavirus updates and following CDC best practices to prevent the spread of the virus. Prescreening procedures are now part of our admissions process to ensure the safety of our clients and staff.
While we remain committed to providing quality care for men and women suffering from substance use disorders, we are using telehealth practices to reduce in-person contact. We are temporarily offering family groups via telehealth as well as speaker meetings. For outpatient clients, we are providing a mix of telehealth and in-person groups in IOP as well as individual sessions. Refer to Telemedicine in Addiction Recovery to learn more about these efforts.
