Floods and Drug Addiction: Why Disasters Raise the Risk of Relapse, and What Families Should Watch For

Do Floods Really Increase Drug Addiction?

A literature review on substance use and disasters concludes that, across the population as a whole, disasters have a fairly small effect on new cases of substance use disorders. A study of survivors of the 1993 Midwest floods in the United States found virtually no new substance use problems after the floods.

The picture is different for people with a history of substance use. Several studies link disaster exposure to worsening symptoms among those with a history, and to a higher likelihood of relapse among people in recovery. This is the group families should pay special attention to.

Why Floods Can Trigger Relapse

Floods bring several layers of stress at once: loss of property and income, lack of sleep, having to move or stay in an evacuation shelter, and losing overnight the daily routines that were helping to hold recovery together. All of these are triggers that can make cravings return more easily.

Another key factor is interrupted care. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that disasters often disrupt treatment services and access to medication, and that people with a history of trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are at higher risk than others.

Lessons From Disasters Abroad

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, a study cited by SAMHSA found that among the people who use drugs who took part, the share injecting drugs once a month rose from 3.0 percent before the hurricane to 22.7 percent after it -- a clear sign that disasters can change behavior in at-risk groups.

This doesn't mean everyone will relapse. It means that during a disaster, the usual protective systems -- routines, the people around you, and follow-up care -- become weaker, so families should step in to provide more support than usual during this period.

Signs Families Should Watch For During a Flood

Early signs are usually emotional and behavioral: isolating, irritability, several sleepless nights in a row, refusing to talk about feelings, or starting to drink more while saying it's to relieve stress.

More worrying signs include talking about friends or places connected with past drug use, money or belongings at home going missing without explanation, or disappearing from home or the shelter for long periods without saying where. If you see these signs, talk with them out of care and contact a specialist team as soon as possible.

How to Reduce the Risk During a Flood

Try to keep basic routines as much as possible: sleep times, mealtimes, and conversation within the family. Stay in touch with the treatment team by phone even if appointments can't be kept, and don't stop prescribed medication on your own. Thailand's Department of Mental Health also warns that people who drink regularly should not stop suddenly without medical supervision, as withdrawal can become severe enough to cause seizures.

Save key numbers on your phone and write them on paper in case your battery dies: the DDPM disaster hotline 1784 to report incidents and request help, 1669 for medical emergencies, 1323 for the mental health hotline, and 1165 for the drug treatment hotline, all available 24 hours a day.

How Petch Nava Can Help Families

Petch Nava is a legally registered private drug treatment facility. If someone at home starts showing worrying signs during the flood or after the water recedes, families can call our specialist team for advice. All information is kept confidential.