Treatment centers notice decline in addicts seeking help

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - During the pandemic, addiction treatment centers have taken notice of a decrease in the amount of addicts reaching out for help. Revive Ministries in Hastings had been experiencing the issue firsthand.

Barbara Strobel, the clinical director for Revive Ministries’ Horizon Recovery and Counseling Center, said the reason for the decrease may have been because there were more people staying at home now more than ever, in addition to the price of treatment.

“I think the cost scares a lot of people too, but they’re not putting it into the right contexts,” she said. “It’s either their lives sometimes or the cost and they’re spending that much money on their addiction.”

Strobel noted, though there had been an overall decrease in clients, they were seeing a more than usual alcohol addicts reach out for help during the course of COVID-19.

Margaret Pederson who works as a counselor for the Horizon Recovery and Counseling had overcome addiction herself and she offered up advice for those looking to turn their lives around as well.

“Just ask for help,” Pederson said. “That’s the biggest hurdle, is picking up that phone because sometimes it feels like it weighs 500 pounds.”

Strobel said they typically had more addicts come in seeking help after the holidays and they were expecting that increase to happen in the coming weeks.