Substance abuse increase in Michigan since pandemic began

Therapist Paul Olson at Great Lakes Recovery Centers said a big contribution to substance abuse lately has been unemployment.
This is a recording of the TV6 Early News.
Published: Aug. 4, 2020 at 6:52 PM EDT
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MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Michigan have seen a substantial increase in overdoses since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Therapist Paul Olson at Great Lakes Recovery Centers said a big contribution to substance abuse lately has been unemployment.

If someone has a problem with drugs or alcohol, he said, and they don’t have a job to support their family, themselves or meet their financial goal, it’s hard for them to maintain sobriety.

Great Lakes Recovery has resources such as telehealth, where patients can speak with their counselors over Zoom or telephone calls. They also have medication assistance treatment for opioids.

If your loved one is struggling with substance abuse, it’s best to just be there for them.

“Just tell them, ‘I care about you. Your recovery is important to me. I want to make sure that you’re healthy and I want to make sure you have what you need. Is there anything I can do?‘” Olson said.

Anyone in recovery is encouraged to reach out to Great Lakes Recovery for counseling or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for support.

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