Social media and the news is focused on the mitigation and control of COVID-19. This is a world health crisis worthy of diligent focus, health measures, and aggresive efforts to prevent and treat. But don't loose sight of the equal, if not greater, ever present impact of alcoholism and other forms of addiction. Every year, over 88,000 people die in America as a direct result of alcohol use. Add drug overdoses, tobacco-related, and other drug related fatalities, and addiction continues to have much greater impact. And alcohol use increases the risk from coronavirus infection as does other forms of drug abuse, smoking and vaping. In some ways, a faith-based approach fills in some gaps and can help people address some of the issues behind what led to their drug or alcohol abuse. For others, it provides accountability and atonement for drug abuse and addiction in a like-minded community.
