How Natural Disasters Disrupt Opioid Recovery: A Call for Better Emergency Access to Medication

Hurricane Helene Leaves Recovery Patient Without Critical Medication

Toni Brewer, who had been in recovery from opioid addiction for 18 months, faced an immediate crisis after Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina in late September 2024. With no power or water, fallen trees blocking roads, and communications down, she fled her Asheville home for Franklin, a journey of more than an hour.

Upon arrival, Brewer opened her car’s center console to find she had only three days’ worth of Suboxone—a buprenorphine-based medication that curbs opioid cravings. Without it, she risked relapse into what she described as a miserable life. "It’s terrifying just to have that feeling again of, ‘I need this, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get this,’" she recalled.

Her doctor’s office was unreachable due to the storm, leaving her stranded without a prescription refill.

Doctors Urge Policy Changes to Prevent Disaster-Related Relapses

A group of four addiction medicine physicians has published an American Journal of Public Health editorial, highlighting the urgent need for improved access to opioid recovery medications during natural disasters. The authors argue that climate change will increase the frequency of such emergencies, exacerbating the U.S. opioid epidemic, which has claimed over 800,000 lives since 1999.

Past Disasters Show Alarming Patterns

• Superstorm Sandy (2012): 70% of New Yorkers relying on recovery medications could not access sufficient supplies.
• Hurricane Maria (2017): Puerto Rico saw a rise in overdose reports in the two years following the storm.
• Tubbs and Camp Fires (2017-2018): Northern California wildfires disrupted access to opioid addiction medications for many patients.

Why Disasters Worsen the Opioid Crisis

The editorial’s authors identify multiple factors that compound the risk during disasters:

• Mental health stressors from displacement and trauma
• Treatment disruptions due to clinic closures or transportation barriers
• Drug market volatility and economic instability
• Increased difficulty accessing prescription medications

“We make it so challenging for them to access treatment medications in the first place. When people are displaced or unable to get to their usual clinics or pharmacies, those challenges just become insurmountable.”

Advocates Push for Federal Action

The physicians’ call for policy reform comes amid a shift in national substance use policy under President Donald Trump. While the editorial does not specify proposed solutions, it emphasizes the need for state and federal governments to act swiftly to prevent disasters from worsening the opioid epidemic.

Need Help? Resources for Opioid Recovery

If you or someone you know is seeking help for addiction recovery, contact the free and confidential treatment referral hotline:

• Phone: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Website: findtreatment.gov