With the Coronavirus outbreak in our country and around the world, people who run to the markets and buy food and cleaning products are emptying the shelves. Experts draw attention to the harms of this behavior, called "hoarding" or "hoarding", both individually and socially. Experts emphasize that especially medicine hoarding can leave patients in need in a difficult situation.
Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Psychiatry Specialist Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Önen Ünsalver made an assessment regarding the hoarding behavior that increased with the coronavirus outbreak.
Noting that the tendency to stockpile is a protection against famine, Asst. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Önen Ünsalver said, "In the coronavirus agenda, where everything is uncertain and moving fast, some of the people perceive that there will be a famine by catastrophizing and nothing will work. We do not know how this process will progress, but we can predict that there will be no disasters such as the destruction of all resources or people starving to death. There will be no shortage of basic food supplies. Luxury goods may not be accessible due to import barriers. The current situation in no way calls for hoarding. Stockpiling is the result of catastrophizing and extreme precautionary strategies and is ultimately harmful to society as it prevents those who really need it from accessing products. The best example of this is cleaning supplies. When you stockpile cleaning supplies in your home, others who need to clean themselves will be left dirty and public health will again be negatively affected as a result."
Stockpiling medicines can harm those in need
Pointing out the damaging consequences of stockpiling medicines that should be used by people in need, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Önen Ünsalver said, "If you leave these people untreated, people's diseases will flare up and in this case, the beds that should be reserved for emergency patients and possible coronavirus cases will be used by other patients."
Precautions should be taken instead of panic
Stating that the coronavirus outbreak causes intense panic in some people, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Önen Ünsalver said, "The most basic way to calm each other down may be to show each other that we are taking the necessary precautions. For example, by not entering crowds, paying attention to the necessary hygiene rules, taking care to eat healthy, we can comfort our loved ones and encourage them to similar behaviors. If social distancing is in place, we can still contact each other by phone, social media, e-mail. We can call and ask. We can listen to the concerns of our loved ones."