Trinsec @Qoto @trinsec@qoto.org

@SecondJon Nah, I'm not talking about getting covid and then overdosing. I'm talking about a 'oh shit, we can't go out, I could get infected, oh woe is me, let me grab some drugs to possibly try and forget about all this' type deal.

And yes, it doesn't mean this should be left untreated until Covid is finished (because let's be honest, how long is that going to take?)
But as I read this, California's mental health support seems to be lacking already, so not sure how you can improve that right now WITH the pandemic going on, alas.

But the original point you made was 'this is worse than the virus', and that's what I argued against. The virus makes it worse.

@SecondJon I'd argue it the other way around. You were basically comparing the overdose crisis in California with a world-wide pandemic.

That people have a lot more attention to Covid-19 doesn't mean that the overdose thing is less terrible. It means the overdose situation is simply at a lower priority. After all, OD is still own choice (albeit possibly addled with a lot of mental trouble beforehand). A highly infectious virus needs immediate attention.

So, no, likely it is not 'making us blind to other situations'. More like 'other situations will have to wait, because this is more severe and needs attention right now.'

Sure, if you break a leg, and get a heart attack at the same time.. feel free to tell the paramedic to treat your leg first instead of making sure your heart still beats, if that is what you're going for.

Additional food for thought: The increase of overdoses... is that maybe because the people can't handle the situation around Covid-19? That they more easily reach towards drugs? In that case, it is even more paramount to solve this pandemic. The OD increase is a symptom, and you should fight the cause, not only the symptom.