135 - COVID-19 and how it has affected us in recovery

Here we are, chatting outside in the beautiful Florida weather, with Real Recovery Talk! COVID-19 has affected so many aspects of our lives, including how Ben and I record our podcasts. We are doing our best to provide recovery at Rock Recovery Center, along with abiding by all state, federal, and local guidelines regarding patient care and the COVID virus.

Many people are struggling with the decision to put their loved one on a plane to send them to recovery. They are worried their family member could contract COVID. What many people don't realize is that if you have a family member who is addicted to drugs, the drugs are more likely to kill them than the COVID virus in many cases. Waiting one day too many to send your loved one to recovery could be the difference between survival and death.

Drug addicts use drugs and alcohol to cope with stressful situations, especially in cases like we are seeing recently. We believe that the use of drugs and alcohol during recent weeks is continuing to escalate because we are in a stressful environment.

We believe that many addicts are being cut off from their addiction source, starting to go through withdrawal and deciding to come to treatment. Additionally, there are over 14,000 methadone patients in New York who cannot currently get their methadone treatment. MAT programs can have many downfalls, the lack of medication in situations such as we are going through at the moment is just one of the downfalls of MAT programs.

Listen in to find out Ben's experience with methadone treatment, methadone's horrible physical and mental withdrawal symptoms, and why we practice abstinence-based recovery and treatment. Find out why you can still look at the positive side of our current situation, why you can take this time to better yourself and your life and what you can do now to ensure you come out better when this situation is over.

Check out my new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.

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Show Notes:

• [02:39] How COVID is affecting our podcast, our lives and our recovery center.
• [03:50] Modifications in client care as a result of protection against Coronavirus.
• [05:49] Waiting one more day to send your loved one to recovery can be the difference between survival and death.
• [08:43] How many of the recovery and addiction groups in South Florida have adapted their meetings because of the COVID outbreak.
• [12:21] The lack of methadone treatment in New York and throughout the country.
• [15:35] Negative effects and downfalls of the MAT program.
• [17:55] Charlie's experience with the methadone when he was in recovery.
• [22:35] Steps Ben and I are taking in our long-term sobriety to continue to be sober.
• [26:30] Ben's pros and cons of the current situation.
• [29:02] Activities you can still take part in, even if your gym is closed.
• [30:12] COVID-19 is not a reason to not give your loved ones a chance at recovery.

Episode Links and Resources

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• Brene Brown and Vulnerability
• Futures Recovery Healthcare Center