Estimates suggest that 2.9 million surgical patients become persistent opioid users each year.

The opioid crisis was of significant concern before COVID-19 and it's only been exacerbated by the pandemic. The resulting health and economic consequences of coronavirus have added another layer of stress, anxiety, fear and worry about job security to most people's lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this environment is especially challenging for high-risk individuals including drug users and those undergoing treatment as well as those with depression, living alone or having personal/marital issues. The void of connection, isolation and limited access to drug treatment and recovery programs has resulted in a surge of substance abuse and opioid overdoses.

Related: Employers spend $2.6 billion annually on care for opioid addiction

Although we are likely not near the end of this pandemic, states have begun their reopening process. As a result, many Americans are beginning to schedule elective surgeries that were largely postponed or stopped because of COVID-19. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has provided recommendations on how states that meet certain criteria can begin re-instituting elective surgeries. The White House's plan for Opening Up America Again includes resuming outpatient elective surgeries as a Phase One priority and inpatient elective procedures are to resume in Phase Two.