The COVID-19 pandemic has been great for addiction. If you think about it, the concept of “social distancing” is akin to “isolation” which is where addiction thrives.
According to RightStep.com, “Isolation is extremely common in active addiction. People may turn to substances because they are lonely and have difficulty relating to others. As the disease of addiction progresses, the addict may have a very hard time interacting with other people, which leads to more isolation and loneliness.
The compulsion to use alcohol or other drugs is so strong that the addict gradually detaches from anyone or anything that gets in the way, and he or she becomes more and more isolated. Nothing can compete with the drive to get high or to escape from reality at all costs. The further you descend into addiction, the less connected you feel to other human beings. You just want to be left alone to do what you want when you want, and you want to avoid facing others. When you are alone, you can avoid listening to other people tell you that you are doing something wrong. As long as they can’t see what you’re doing, they can’t object to it. In this way, isolation becomes like a wall around you that no one can get through. You cut yourself off from other human beings whenever possible. It’s a very lonely place to be.”
Read more at https://www.rightstep.com/rehab-blog/why-addicts-isolate-and-why-its-a-problem/ .