Isolation, anxiety and other aspects of the pandemic have added stress for people facing addiction. 6:00 am, Feb. 19, 2021 ×
Cindy I., a resident at Cronin Home, takes a short walk around the building Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Rochester. Cronin Home provides housing for people recovering from addiction. (Joe Ahlquist / jahlquist@postbulletin.com)
Cindy I’s struggle with alcohol started years before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, but months into the global health crisis it became too much for her.
“I had moved in with someone that I just shouldn’t have,” said the former Chaska-area resident as she recalled how her addiction started more than four years ago. “There was a lot of chaos in the house, and my way of dealing with it was drinking alone and hiding.”