According to the University of Michigan’s Department of Psychiatry, COVID-19 related social isolation and stress can increase susceptibility to substance misuse, addiction, and relapse. Substance abuse use can lead to immune system, respiratory, and pulmonary changes and may increase susceptibility to COVID-19 as well as complications.

While the COVID-19 pandemic plagues this nation, so, too, do transnational criminal organizations and violent street gangs, adjusting to pandemic restrictions to flood our communities with dangerous drugs.

According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths now total more than 100,000 annually in the United States. The number of overdose deaths accelerated significantly during the pandemic.

While synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, continue to be the primary cause of these deaths, there has also been an alarming increase in the number of deaths involving illicit stimulants, particularly methamphetamine. Overdose deaths connected to meth increased almost 35 percent in 2020, exceeding the number of cocaine-related deaths.

Another great concern is that a new synthetic opioid was found in the Tampa Bay area of Florida in January of this year. Commonly known as ISO, the synthetic opioid is 20 times more potent than fentanyl.

Addiction in America is an ever-increasing national crisis!

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” –James 5:16

Not only is substance abuse America’s number one health problem, the devastation of alcoholism and other drug addiction has impacted families and communities worldwide. Substance abuse has been directly linked to violence and sexual immorality and is a major source of income for organized crime and terrorist activities.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” –Ephesians 6:12

Please put on the full armor of God and fervently pray in spirit and in truth for those held captive by addiction to be set free!!!

Thank you! Steven L. Sherman, Founder “Just Pray NO!” Ltd.