Addict: Isolation makes it harder to stay clean

Maya is 54 years old and used crack for 11 years.

For 13 years, she had stopped using and was herself a drug and alcohol mentor and therapist.

In 2010 Maya, whose name has been changed here to protect her identity, started using again.

“I just lost it, kept having break-downs. There’s a lot of stuff from my past I’m not able to deal with,” she told MediaNews Group in a phone interview set up through Creative Health.

As of April 25, she has been clean again for four months.

But coronavirus restrictions are making it harder.

“I’ve been able to not use so far, but given this tough time with the family, I probably would have used, but my dealer is in jail,” she said.

Maya lives with her daughter, son-in-law and her grandchildren. There was a recent fight over money and her son-in-law said he wants Maya to leave.

“I’m waiting on housing in senior housing. My name was on the list before the pandemic but everything is on hold, so I can’t move out,” she said.

As a result, she is almost completely isolated in her room.

“I’m still here but I’ve been cut off from the rest of the family. The only people I see are my granddaughters,” she said.

To be clear, those are the only people she sees in person.

Maya is still participating in her therapy sessions, but only online.

She participates in group therapy online, and has conversations her with a therapist online.

“It’s been helpful getting to see them,” said Maya. “I’d rather be in the group than talking on the phone. At least with group, we have video, but it’s still not the same. I want to talk to someone.”