The Comorbid COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Relationship Between Isolation and Opioid Abuse

Abstract

This study seeks to explore qualitatively the lived experiences of individuals who suffered from opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the role of isolation in substance abuse. Situated at the intersection of a global pandemic and an ongoing opioid epidemic, the study examines how pandemic-related disruptions, including social distancing, mask-wearing, and the loss of in-person recovery meetings, impacted participants’ emotional well-being, substance use patterns, and recoveries from opioid abuse. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study seeks to understand how individuals made meaning of their experiences during a period marked by isolation and uncertainty. The study also engages Johann Hari’s proposition that connection is central to recovery, exploring how the lack of social connection may have influenced relapse risk and coping strategies. Robert Romanyshyn’s alchemical hermeneutics provides a complementary depth psychological lens, allowing the researcher’s subjective and emotional engagement to influence the study. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews exploring qualitatively the ways the isolation of the pandemic related to opioid abuse. Findings deepen psychological understandings of addiction and highlight the importance of relational and connection-oriented approaches in substance abuse treatment, particularly within the context of a global emergency, while honoring the soul-level, unconscious connection between the research topic and the researcher.