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 of
addiction has ravaged this state and the nation. Pre-COVID-19, deaths from alcohol, drugs and
suicide were on track to break records in the number of victims in our state this year. Those who
survive this year will face a second wave of death due to tobacco related diseases and or relapse
to drug of choice unless tobacco is routinely treated in Substance Use Disorder. Sadly, the
pandemic we now face portends an upward spike in deaths from untreated addiction that may
rival deaths from COVID-19.
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