The primary concern during the coronavirus pandemic remains safety at rehab for patients and staff members. This article covers the impact of coronavirus on those with substance use disorders and the steps we have taken to ensure patients’ health during their time in recovery. Remember, the final word on how to handle illness in your family should come from authoritative public health officials.
Coronavirus and Those with Substance Use Disorders
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is passed from person to person. Symptoms include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath. More severe symptoms may include pneumonia in both lungs, diarrhea, and respiratory distress. The fatality rate is much higher among those with compromised immune systems. This includes those with allergies, lupus, and diabetes. Additionally, those over 80 who test positive have a fatality rate of 14.8%.
If you struggle with addiction to alcohol or drugs, you may have a weak immune system that makes you more susceptible to getting the coronavirus. We can infer this by looking at how drugs compromise your body’s defense system. You shouldn’t let this prevent you from getting help to overcome your addiction. In fact, it’s more important than ever to break the cycle of addiction with the help of an effective Florida drug and alcohol detox center.
To ensure safety at rehab, we advise patients to become more aware of any symptoms they may experience. Those with weak immune systems may experience milder symptoms because their bodies have a harder time mounting a defense. Therefore, it’s harder to detect COVID-19 early, which may increase person-to-person transmission rates. Our staff monitors patients closely to help ensure early detection.
Are Detox Centers Open During the Pandemic?
Yes, many medical detox centers remain open during the coronavirus pandemic. Additional precautions help ensure safety at rehab. As usual, we remain focused on providing the services patients need during addiction recovery while maintaining the highest health and safety standards. Therefore, we have adopted recommendations from both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) has recommended policies outlines in their “Keep Calm and Carry On” publication. So far, the NAATP hasn’t changed its program scheduling guidelines.
As new information and recommendations become available through public health organizations, we will continue to educate patients on steps needed to ensure health safety at rehab.
How We Are Maintaining Safety at Rehab
To maintain safety at rehab, all patients receive a screening to assess their risk of having COVID-19 before coming to the center.
Questions asked to potential patients include:
- Have you come into contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19?
- Do you show any signs of illness?
- Have you traveled to a high-risk area within 14 days prior to admission?
- Do you have any of the symptoms associated with coronavirus?
Patient-related Precautions
Prior to joining our community, patients also have to pass a medical screening. Within 24-hours, new admissions are re-checked by medical professionals on staff as a precaution.
To further impede the spread of COVID-19 at our center, we advise patients to follow these guidelines:
- Report flu-like symptoms right away
- Avoid handshaking, hugging, or touching other patients
- Sanitize hands often
- Hold group sessions outdoors
- Isolate in a private room in the event coronavirus symptoms occur
Facility Precautions
We regularly deep clean our facilities. However, we also follow the guidelines outlined by the WHO and CDC. This includes wiping down surfaces frequently and ensuring quarantine rooms are available.
Safety at Rehab
With social distancing and shelter in place policies spreading, this could be a great time to seek treatment for substance use disorders. Rehab centers continue to help patients develop the tools they need to maintain lifelong recovery. Contact Summit Detox by calling (888) 995-5265 to start the path to addiction recovery.
