LOS ANGELES — Ever since he was in the fifth grade, drugs were a constant in Kai Zimmerman’s life. Over time, what started as an escape, turned into an addiction.

“Mainly, it was just a heroin addiction. I would definitely label myself as a garbage disposal when it comes to it. I was the kind of person that if anything would get me out of myself, I was more than willing to do it,” Zimmerman said. 

Zimmerman said that a rough upbringing and addictions in his family were what led him to drugs. After hitting rock bottom a few years ago, he asked his family for help. Zimmerman tried a couple of drug rehabilitation centers before finding one that worked for him.

Now that he's more than two and a half years sober, he's facing a new challenge – isolation.

"At the end of my addiction, I just did drugs by myself, and that was really it. And being thrown back into this scenario was really uncomfortable because it's traumatic. It brings that experience back," Zimmerman said.

Throughout the pandemic, many individuals in recovery from their addictions have been left vulnerable to relapses as COVID-19 restrictions leave many in isolation — a key trigger, according to Westwind Recovery. Zack Ament is the co-CEO of Westwind Recovery. He's seen the pandemic lead to an increase in heroin, opiates, and alcohol addictions. The increase has also pushed more people to seek assistance in recovery, leading the center to open two new sober-living homes

"The COVID-19 pandemic has led to relapses in people in the recovery community because they are not around their support system. The opposite of addiction is connection, and because of social isolation, we're not experiencing connectedness to other people," Ament said.

While Zimmerman has been able to hold on to his sobriety, he said that this pandemic hasn't made it easy. He received treatment and lived in a sober-living home with the recovery center in the past. While Westwind Recovery provides the traditional therapy, 12-step programs, and detox, they also focus on creating outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and social outings to maintain the connection and friendships those in recovery need. 

Having those social outings and support is what helps Zimmerman maintain his sobriety to this day, despite the challenge of the pandemic.

“Just having the gift to be sober, being able to have the opportunity to be here. That’s all that I could ask for,” Zimmerman said.

While pandemic pressures are putting a strain on Zimmerman’s mental health, he’s spending his time focused on rebuilding his life, one day at a time.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified Kai Zimmerman. The error has been corrected. (March 5, 2021)