When Natural Disasters Strike, Another Crisis Hits Those Recovering From Opioid Addiction
After Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, Toni Brewer faced a crisis when she realized she had only three days' worth of Suboxone, a medication for opioid addiction. Doctors are now urging federal lawmakers to improve access to substance use medications during natural disasters.
Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina in late September 2024, leaving Toni Brewer without power or water. She had to drive over an hour to stay with relatives and discovered she had only three days' worth of Suboxone, a medication for opioid addiction. Four physicians published an editorial in the American Journal of Public Health, outlining strategies to improve access to substance use medications during natural disasters. They cited studies showing that disasters like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Maria led to increased overdose reports and disruptions in access to opioid addiction medications. The doctors urged state and federal governments to act to prevent more disasters from aggravating the opioid crisis, which has killed over 800,000 people in the U.S. since 1999. Climate change is expected to cause more disasters, heightening the risk of overdose deaths.
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