Immediately after the first of the three federal stimulus checks was announced, experts had warned that the money would be abused by millions. For low and moderate-income Americans, the stimulus check amount is substantial and the biggest check they get in a year.
A disturbing story emerged in which a 2-year-old child overdosed on fentanyl that his mother had carelessly left lying around after she took a dose. The drugs had been bought with money from the stimulus checks. The Kenton County woman was charged with murder in the death of the child.
33-year-old Laura Ashley Baker told the court that she used the money from her stimulus check to buy fentanyl in Cincinnati, according to a citation by the police. She allegedly told police that she took a shot of the drug and fell asleep with her son nearby. When she woke up the contents of her purse were scattered and her son lay unresponsive beside her.
The child was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead from an overdose. Police have charged her with wantonly causing the death of her son by giving him easy access to the potent drug.
Baker faces charges of murder, trafficking in a controlled substance, and importing a dangerous drug.
Right after the first stimulus checks were distributed by the federal government, there were concerns over the diversion of a substantial amount to buy drugs and alcohol. A report suggested that around 24 million Americans would use stimulus check money to buy drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.
A year into the pandemic concern grew about how people may have spent their stimulus check payments. Thomas Gooch of Street Works, an HIV advocacy center in Nashville said that many low and moderate-income people are not used to handling such a substantial sum. Getting hundreds of dollars at a time would be an open invitation to abuse the money and take it to the limit.
A report released a year into the pandemic revealed that there was an increase in overdoses after the first round of the stimulus check. Lauren Baker faces charges of murder, importing fentanyl, and trafficking in a controlled substance. Prosecutors allege Jaxson died after consuming fentanyl that was present in his mother’s bag.
Extra money in the hands of people prone to vice can have an adverse effect. Surveys showed that almost 24 million Americans will use their stimulus checks money to buy alcohol, drugs, and other addictive material.
There are plenty of data that proves that an influx of unregulated cash in the hands of addicts will lead to overdose and drug-related deaths. These are also linked to a rise in unemployment.
There were over 81,000 deaths from overdose in the 12 months between May 2019 and May 2020.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that it was the higher ever overdose deaths ever recorded over a 12-month period.
Convergence Of The Pandemic Stimulus Check And The Opioid Epidemic
Over $4 billion was designated for substance abuse disorders and mental health issues in the latest COVID-19 relief bill. Experts say that further research is warranted to investigate the potential relationship between the COVID-19 economic impact payments, or stimulus checks, and the incidence of drug overdose, and overdose-related deaths.
The convergence of the pandemic with the drug epidemic has led to a perfect storm say, experts. It has resulted in historically high levels of drug abuse and overdose-related deaths that have now surpassed the 100,000 mark in a period of 12 months in the US.
In a stressful atmosphere like the pandemic, people dependent on drugs were found to be extra-susceptible to COVID-19-linked stress factors as compared to the general population. It has led to social isolation, loss of income sources, and housing. Users have also faced a loss of availability of harm-reducing strategies and reduced access to medication treatment for drug addicts.
County officials in Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, Minnesota, and several other states have reported spikes in both non-fatal and fatal overdose cases. While the stimulus checks have been a lifesaver for millions of individuals and households, for some it has brought little solace as a result of pandemic-induced isolation. And in an increasingly disturbing number of cases, there has been this direct link between the stimulus check money and the incidence of overdose and deaths.
County officials in these states and other states have reported a disturbingly high spike in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses, as well as emergency room visits. Each round of stimulus checks was directly linked to a spike in such cases of overdose and deaths.
Substance abuse officials say that there is definitely a correlation between the recent rounds of stimulus checks that were sent out and the epidemic of overdose across the US. there was this increase after the first round of stimulus checks. And they report an incidence of overdose after the tax returns as many low and moderate-income families and individuals get the tax refund stimulus check.
There were three fatal overdoses and 13 non-fatal overdoses reported in Northwest Virginia alone. Addiction centers sent out messages encouraging individuals living with addiction to reach out to help before it was too late.
Stimulus Checks And Pandemic-Induced Isolation A Deadly Combination
The sense of isolation during the pandemic months and the easy money of the stimulus check have unfortunately turned out to have been a deadly combination across the US. it is ironic stimulus checks are supposed to help families and individuals and prop up the economy. But instead of helping people move forward through tough times, it has meant a curse for many people prone to substance abuse and addiction.
There has also been a large spike in anxiety and depression. And people’s fears will not disperse easily even as the pandemic makes a quiet exit. The period of forced isolation was one of depression and loneliness and pushed many towards drugs and alcohol. People were induced by boredom, depression, and social isolation, and found momentary relief in such abuse.
