For those who have been following substance abuse trends, you may have heard that opioid addiction in America is on the rise insofar that it is now considered a national crisis. To further put this into perspective, we need only take a look at a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study revealed that 47,450 people in America died from an opioid-related overdose in 2018. And this is up from the 42,000 daily deaths reported in 2016 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Also noteworthy, opioid addiction in America encompasses both prescription and street-level variants, such as heroin, for example.
Opioid Addiction in Florida
According to a study published by the National Institute on Drug abuse, an estimated 68% of the 4,698 reported drug overdose deaths in Florida were related to opioids in 2018. And there are several reasons why Florida is dealing with its own personal crisis when it comes to opioid addiction. Several studies show that many individuals abuse opioids to combat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders. Conversely, some individuals will take opioid-based medications to relieve chronic pain and eventually become addicted to them, which is not entirely surprising given the number of prescriptions written for opioid medications in Florida.
To that point, the same study published by the National Institute on Drug abuse noted that Florida physicians wrote an estimated 53.7 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons in 2018, which was slightly higher than the national rate of 51.4 for the same calendar year. That said, many Floridians who took opioid-based medication for legitimate reasons ended up developing a severe addiction.
How Florida Rehab Facilities Are Helping to Curb Widespread Opioid Addiction
Indeed, when it comes to opioid addiction in Florida, specifically, the sunshine state has had its fair share of struggles. However, many Floridians are also starting to break the cycle of addiction. Between 1992 and 2006, the most recent and relevant data available, admissions into drug and alcohol rehab facilities across Florida increased by more than 25 percent. And this positive trend doesn’t seem like it is going to end any time soon. In response, rehab facilities are making it easier for individuals to get the help that they desperately need.
What Kind of Addiction Recovery Services Are Available at Florida Rehab Facilities?
To ensure all individuals have the best chance of achieving long-term sobriety, which reduces the number of people addicted to opioids in the state, many Florida drug and alcohol rehab facilities offer a wide range of tried and true addiction recovery programs. Some of these programs include the following:
Medication-assisted detox – Arguably, the most challenging part of ending an addiction to opioids is getting through detox, the process whereby the body rids itself of not only drugs but also other harmful contaminants. During detox, many individuals experience severe withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and severe pain. To combat these symptoms, nearly all rehab facilities will offer medication-assisted detox, which includes round-the-clock monitoring by a licensed physician and access to prescription medications. Some of these medications, which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to combat withdrawal-related symptoms, include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, for example.
Inpatient programs – Many rehab facilities in Florida will offer individuals the option of completing the remainder of their addiction recovery journey in an inpatient program after completing detox. For reference, an inpatient program is very structured and can last anywhere from 1 to 3 months. During this time, individuals will continue to be monitored by a licensed physician and will have access to prescription medication if needed. They will also have access to support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous, as well as individual or group addiction counseling with a licensed therapist. These counseling sessions can include various forms of psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing.
Residential programs – Slightly less structured than an inpatient program, residential programs in many rehab facilities in Florida will typically last 6 to 12 months. These programs provide the same addiction recovery services as their inpatient counterpart. However, they also offer addiction education, which teaches individuals how to remain drug-free once they reintegrate back into society. For reference, 228 licensed rehab facilities in Florida offer residential programs. And many of these programs, along with addiction education, will provide individuals with employment assistance and other social support services.
Bottom Line
All in all, rehab facilities in Florida are doing a lot to curb opioid addiction in the state. And most of it is being accomplished while they help individual users break the cycle of addiction. To learn more about the addiction recovery services mentioned in this article or to find a rehab facility in your area, consider speaking with one of our friendly addiction specialists today at 833-846-5669.