Prior to February 2020, Californians faced a deadly force killing thousands of citizens each year:the opioid epidemic. Regardless of race, education, wealth, or social standing, the disease ofaddiction has ravaged this state and the nation. Pre-COVID-19, deaths from alcohol, drugs andsuicide were on track to break records in the number of victims in our state this year. Those whosurvive this year will face a second wave of death due to tobacco related diseases and or relapseto drug of choice unless tobacco is routinely treated in Substance Use Disorder. Sadly, thepandemic we now face portends an upward spike in deaths from untreated addiction that mayrival deaths from COVID-19. |