Video: NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow offers a year-end message of hope during the holiday season.
Video length: 1:40
Transcript
[Dr. Nora Volkow speaking]
I’m Nora Volkow, and I direct the National Institute on Drug Abuse. I think that this year has posed some of the most challenging circumstances we have ever all lived through with the COVID pandemic, but in the field of addiction, this has been actually amplified by the increase in overdose deaths that we have seen triggered very much by multiple factors linked with a pandemic but that has resulted in more than 100,000 people dying from overdoses.
At the same time, I do see some very positive aspects that we've all learned through the COVID pandemic, and one of them is being able to recognize how extraordinarily important it is for all to have social contacts, to have communities, to have friendships, to reach out to help others. And that is probably one of the most important messages that I'd like to send as we finish this year, with so many challenges, that we will be able to overcome it. Because in situations of stress, we actually have the capacity to come together and that coming together brings the best in all of us. And it is that that will lead us to a better tomorrow, as we overcome the COVID pandemic, but also the opioid crisis.
I want to wish you all a very, very happy holiday season, and I want us to continue to embrace the spirit of community, friendship, and love.