COVID Timeline and Mental Health

It appears as though we are approaching the finish line to COVID. But we still have a ways to go. Whether it’s the mental health, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse behavior that have changed Americans in the last year, we are all for sure changed in some way. A new version of ourselves.

At American Addiction Centers (AAC), a nationwide leader in addiction treatment, we understand the needs of those battling a substance use disorder, an alcohol use disorder, and co-occurring mental health conditions in this pandemic and beyond. The safety of our staff and patients is our priority.

Our healthcare professionals have the compassion and expertise to treat patients with both medical detox and treatment. If you or a loved one is battling drug or alcohol abuse, please reach out for help.

As we reflect on a few of the milestones through the global pandemic, let’s consider options on how we move forward into a promising future. It was just over a year ago when the airborne deadly virus started to become a household name. Although we all work through our personal emotions connected with the pandemic in our own way, we’ve all created not only a new perspective on life, but a new way to navigate through each day.

A Year in Review: 2020

January 9^th: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a collection of unknown pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan, China that were initially discovered in late 2019 may have been caused by an unidentified coronavirus.

End of January: New virus cases confirmed in Japan, the United States, and Thailand.

9,800 total worldwide cases

200 total worldwide deaths

Mid-February: SARS-CoV-2 receives its official name: COVID-19.

March 11^th: WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic.

March 13^th: President Donald Trump declared a national emergency.

March 16^th: United States researchers administered first shot of experimental COVID vaccine to

a person.

March 28^th: U.S. death toll surpassed 2,000 lives.

End of March: United States led the entire world in the total number of known COVID-19 cases.

Schools started closing.

Businesses forced to close.

Stay-at-home orders passed.

April 2^nd: U.S. Department of Labor reported 6.6 million Americans filed unemployment.

Total deaths in New York surpass 2,000.

April 3^rd: Death toll in the United States surpasses 7,000 people.

April 9^th: Trial begins for second COVID vaccine.

April 10^th: Google and Apple announced partnership to use smartphone technology for contact tracing.

April 15^th: The number of COVID cases surpassed 2 million globally.

The list goes on.

So many events happened between the time COVID was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 through March of 2021. As of March 25, 2021, deaths in the United States from COVID are over 540,000. Unfortunately, that number is pretty alarming. But at the same time, 133 million vaccines have already been administered. There is hope.

Mental Health Solution and Treatment

Where do we go from here? Some individuals have relapsed during this pandemic. Some are battling with depression and/or anxiety.  Some people have committed suicide within the last year. Others have lost jobs. Relationships were tested. Food insecurity has been a reality.

How we continue to behave and as we come out of the pandemic, who are we? Hopefully, healthier and stronger for having gone through the experience and with having access to any of the approved vaccines by the Federal Drug Administration.

If you are struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol or have relapsed in the midst of this pandemic, you’re not alone. There are resources available to help you achieve long-term sobriety in this pandemic and far beyond it. Don’t let a battle with substance abuse hinder you. Please reach out to get the help that you need today.