• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

FHE Health | Inpatient Rehab & Mental Health Facility in Florida Homepage

Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment

ContactCareers

Call for Immediate Help (833) 596-3502

MENUMENU
  • About
        • About FHE Rehab
          • About FHE Health
          • Our Staff
          • Locations We Serve
          • Testimonials
        • Our Campus
          • Gallery
          • Our Videos
          • The Health and Wellness Center at FHE Health
        • Our Locations
          • Alcohol Rehab
          • Detox Center
          • Drug Rehab
          • Mental Health Center
          • Outpatient Rehab
        • Careers at FHE Health
          • Employment Opportunities
        • Our Expertise
          • Accreditations
          • Educational Opportunities
          • Community Impact Award
          • First Responder Families Podcast
          • First Responder Paws
          • Education Scholarship
  • Addiction
        • Treatment Programs
          • Treatment Program Overview
          • Alcohol Addiction
          • Drug Addiction Treatment
          • Behavioral Addiction
        • Levels of Care
          • Continuum of Care
          • Addiction Detox
          • Inpatient Addiction Treatment
          • Outpatient Addiction Treatment
        • What We Treat
          • Alcoholism
          • Amphetamines
          • Benzodiazepines
          • Cocaine
          • Heroin
          • Opioids
          • Sedative
  • Mental Health
        • Mental Health Rehab
          • Mental Health Rehab
          • Onsite Psychiatric Care
          • Dual Diagnosis
        • Levels of Care
          • Residential Mental Health Care
          • Outpatient Mental Health Care
        • What We Treat
          • ADD & ADHD
          • Anxiety Disorders
          • Bipolar Disorder
          • Depression
          • Eating Disorders
          • Personality Disorders
          • PTSD
          • Schizophrenia
          • Substance Use Disorder
          • Trauma
  • Programs
        • FHE Programs
          • Specialty Program Overview
          • Restore (Mental Health)
          • Empower! (Women's Program)
          • Shatterproof FHE Health(First Responders)
          • Compass Program
        • Support Programs
          • Alumni
          • Family Support
        • Therapies
          • Acupuncture
          • Breathwork Therapy
          • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
          • DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
          • EMDR Therapy
          • Expressive Arts Therapy
          • Individual Therapy
          • Group Therapy
          • Gambling Therapy
          • Massage
        • Medical Care
          • Medical Integration
          • Ketamine Infusion
          • IV Vitamin
          • Fitness & Nutrition
          • Medication-Assisted Treatment
          • Medication Management
        • NeuroRehab Services
          • Neuro Rehabilitation
          • Neurofeedback Training
          • Neurostimulation Therapy
          • EEG Brain Mapping
          • Insomnia Treatment for PTSD
  • Resources
        • FHE Guides
          • Understanding Drug Abuse
          • Signs of Addiction
          • The Disease of Addiction
          • Confronting Addiction
          • Staging an Intervention
          • Rehab Success Rate – Does It Really Work?
          • Withdrawal Timelines
          • Life After Rehab
          • LGBTQ+ Community Resources
          • Veteran Resources
          • FHE Podcasts
          • Remote Resources Toolkit
        • Learning Center
          • Help for You
          • Help For Loved Ones
          • Help For Alcoholism
          • Help With Substance Abuse
          • Behavioral & Mental Health
          • Life in Recovery
          • Rehab Explained
          • Addiction Statistics
          • Our Research Articles
          • View All Articles
        • The Experience Blog
          • Addiction News
          • Alumni
          • Community Events
          • Expert Opinions
          • FHE Commentary
          • FHE News
          • Treatment Legislation
          • View All Articles
  • Admissions
        • Insurance
          • Blue Cross Insurance
          • Beacon Health / Value Options Insurance
          • Cigna Insurance
          • Humana Insurance
          • TRICARE Insurance
        • Admissions
          • Steps to Addiction Help
          • Will Insurance Cover Behavioral Treatment?
          • Self-Pay Rehab
        • FAQ
          • Keeping Your Job in Rehab
          • Example Day in Rehab
        • Contact Admissions
          • Contact Us
          • Secure Payment Form
  • Contact
  •  
Home > Learning > Drug Addiction > Drug Overdoses and Seizures Spike in Alarming Pandemic Trend

September 13, 2021 By Kristina Robb-Dover

Drug Overdoses and Seizures Spike in Alarming Pandemic Trend

Pandemic Spike: Drug Overdoses and Seizures

The COVID-19 pandemic has overshadowed virtually everything since throwing the world into chaos in early 2020. Employment, recreation, culture and medical practices changed overnight, resulting in a significant upheaval in the way the world works.

However, while the pandemic affected many other facets of how people live, the momentum of the opioid epidemic was largely unchanged. For those with an addiction to heroin or prescription painkillers, the pandemic did nothing to ameliorate the situation. In fact, evidence indicates the situation has worsened.



Unfortunately, fentanyl deaths didn't improve in 2020 versus 2019, regardless of the presence of the pandemic. In some areas, overdose deaths actually spiked, demonstrating the pervasive and serious nature of opioid addiction. Despite the endemic nature of COVID-19, the impact of the opioid crisis in 2020 and preceding years can't be overlooked.

Stress, Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 effectively turned the world upside down. In a matter of days, states and cities issued mask mandates, ordered stores and restaurants to shutter, sent employees to work from home and changed life as we know it. Almost everyone saw a significant upheaval in their way of life, including changes in employment and lost jobs. Isolation and loneliness increased, activities required for mental health decreased and levels of chronic fear related to premature death rose.

The news in the early days of the pandemic was nothing short of terrifying. Doctors and nurses fought against an unknown assailant with no idea what to expect as the pandemic raged on. In some areas, like New York City, cases and deaths overwhelmed facilities. This painted a bleak picture of what the future could look like as the pandemic spread across the country. Given the situation, it's not surprising that stress levels and the use of unhealthy coping mechanisms soared.

Around 40% of American adults reported anxiety or depression stemming from COVID-19, in addition to effects such as trouble sleeping, loss of appetite and substance use. Alarmingly, 13% admitted to new or increased problems with substance abuse, indicating the use of drugs and alcohol as a way to manage pandemic stress.

Overdoses saw an increase in the early days of the pandemic as well. As people were faced with a rapidly changing world that appeared grimmer by the day, getting high became increasingly appealing. Based on rolling 30-day data, overdoses were up 18% in March, 29% in April and a further 42% in May. These overdose deaths in the earliest days of 2020 show clear evidence of a correlation between the pandemic and an increase in substance abuse.

The Growing Presence of Fentanyl

While medical professionals are hard at work fighting the pandemic, the drug trade is alive and well. Unfortunately, for those who have an opioid use disorder, this includes an ever-increasing presence of fentanyl.

Fentanyl, both in prescription forms and cut with heroin, has been an issue of particular note in the present opioid epidemic. The increased presence of fentanyl has accelerated overdoses and deaths across the country, and opioid crisis news indicates this trend shows no signs of stopping.

In many areas, seizures of fentanyl highlight that its use is still prevalent, in spite of the pandemic.

  • In New York City, fentanyl seizures were up 59% over the prior year as of January 2021, and experts estimate over 60% of overdose deaths in the city involve fentanyl.
  • Seizures are up at the Southern border between the United States and Mexico as well, with a 4,000% increase over the preceding three years.
  • The Florida opioid crisis is also highly affected by the presence of fentanyl in illegally distributed drugs.

Overdose and a Stressed System

Few medical systems nationwide are unaffected by COVID-19. Unfortunately, this has caused something of a waterfall effect that's left everyone with fewer avenues for care.

With most medical resources, including hospital beds, EMS and available staff, allocated to COVID-19 patients, those with other health issues are suffering. EMS response times have increased dangerously, resulting in cases where help arrives, but not in time to make a difference. Furthermore, some hospitals have been forced to turn away patients due to a lack of space. All these factors are compounding the dangers of excessive opioid use.

Hospitals and urgent care aren't the only pain points in targeting opioid overdoses. According to Pfizer, manufacturing issues have contributed to lower supplies of Narcan, a critical drug in combating overdoses. Without rapid EMS response and easy access to Narcan, those struggling with opioid addiction are in greater danger than ever before.

The Problems With Self-Medication

Many people across all walks of life feel compelled to try to fix problems themselves before reaching out for help. In times of great stress, this can lead to abusive behaviors such as drinking too much or developing a drug habit. Users often assume these are short-term ways to handle stress, but it's far too easy for habits to form. This was evident in the opioid epidemic in 2020.

Admitting a need for help can be very difficult to do. However, it's the best way to overcome stress, anxiety, depression, or personal struggles without putting health or life in danger. Speaking to a professional, joining a support group or entering a treatment program can increase the likelihood of overcoming problems. Seeking help can also significantly reduce the risk of harm.

Getting Help for Addiction

Unfortunately, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing. This makes life harder than ever for those struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. However, the pandemic's presence shouldn't be a barrier to getting help. Rehabilitation resources are still available for those living with substance use disorders of all kinds.

If you or a loved one is living with addiction, contact FHE Health today by calling (833) 596-3502. We offer various treatment options to help prevent a repeat of the opioid crisis of 2020.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Featured for Drug Addiction

About Kristina Robb-Dover

Kristina Robb-Dover is a content manager and writer with extensive editing and writing experience... read more

Primary Sidebar

Learning Center

  • Help for You
  • Help For Loved Ones
  • Help For Alcoholism
  • Help With Substance Abuse
  • Behavioral & Mental Health
  • Life in Recovery
  • Rehab Explained
  • All Articles

Sign up for the Blog

Our Facilities

Take a look at our state of the art treatment center.

View Our Gallery

The Experience Blog

  • Addiction News
  • Alumni
  • Community Events
  • Expert Columns
  • FHE Commentary
  • FHE News
  • Treatment Legislation
  • All Articles

Footer

FHE Health

© 2025 FHE Health

505 S Federal Hwy #2,
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441
1-833-596-3502
youtube facebook instagram linkedin twitter
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • AI Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
A+ BBB and Top Places to Work - Sun Sentinel

Copyright © 2025 · FHE Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}

The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at marketing@fhehealth.com.

833-596-3502

Text/Call Me