The anxiety surrounding COVID-19, much like the disease itself, is everywhere. Unfortunately, this has caused many people to turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with coronavirus-related stress. New research conducted by the medical team at The Recovery Village, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation company, shows just how devastating the trend is. In a recent survey of 500 Florida adults, they found that approximately 80 percent of individuals reported using alcohol in the past month, more than 35 percent used marijuana, and upwards of 10 percent indicated using prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, or prescription stimulants. Furthermore, many of these people acknowledged that they should cut back on their current consumption. "Coronavirus has sparked an uptick in drug and alcohol use based on the data we have been tracking," says Stacey Henson, LCSW, ACSW, of The Recovery Village. "The most obvious explanation for this trend is the increase in stress and anxiety that has been brought on by the pandemic."