The opioid crisis meets the coronavirus crisis

It is said that 16 million people are suffering from opioid use disorder, with three million in the US.

Throw the coronavirus pandemic into the mix, and many new issues surface as a result.

Methadone clinics and face-to-face counselling services are forced to shut down, raising questions about where sufferers will get the help they need.

The 2018 US Department of Health and Human Services study showed a correlation between opioid use disorder and poverty/unemployment.

With businesses shutting down and people losing their jobs, the coronavirus pandemic could worsen the opioid crisis.

Although counselling and rehabilitation clinics were forced to close, their virtual counterparts are still available.

Methadone is a treatment option for relieving opioid cravings and reducing the risk of relapse.

Although distributing it through traditional avenues is impossible due to social distancing restrictions, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is trying to prepare patients for home-based treatment.

Even though some methadone clinics continue to operate, visiting one brings a risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Another problem of opioid abuse is that sufferers tend to have decreased lung capacity.

Since COVID-19 attacks the lungs, this could trigger a deadly combination.

To meet the demands of the crisis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised opioid manufacturers to ramp up production over 65%.

The implications for illegal use remain unknown.