If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol and call Florida home, you are not alone. According to drug-rehabs.org, an online resource for drug education and addiction awareness, more than 410,000 Floridians admitted to having a substance use disorder in 2014. It is also worth noting that the number of overdose cases in the state increased by over 5,000 between 2014 and 2016. That said, the substances that are being abused the most in Florida, also known as the sunshine state, include alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
And while prescribed for legitimate reasons, many Floridians are also abusing prescription pain relievers, namely Oxycontin and Hydrocodone. So while the state is best known for its theme parks and exciting nightlife, most will agree that Florida has a serious problem on its hands when it comes to substance abuse. It should be noted, however, that many people have begun to recognize the devastating toll that abusing drugs and alcohol can have on their lives and have sought addiction recovery services from the nearly 14,000 rehab facilities interspersed in and around Florida.
ARE ALL DETOX PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA ATTACHED TO REHAB CENTERS?
Most physicians and addiction experts will agree that overcoming an addiction to certain substances is easier than others. For example, individuals who choose to end their relationship with marijuana are seldom confronted by severe withdrawal symptoms as they go through detox. Sadly, this is not the case for those who are seeking to end their relationship with prescription-based or street-level opioids, such as heroin. The same can also be said for those trying to overcome an addiction to alcohol. In most cases, when an individual stops consuming these particular substances, they will usually find themselves having to deal with an onslaught of severe withdrawal symptoms. And sometimes, these withdrawal symptoms are so severe that many will choose to forgo their pursuit of sobriety and start using again.
Fortunately, many rehab facilities in Florida are aware of the challenges that come with ending one’s relationship with opioids, alcohol, and other hardcore substances. As such, many will offer detox assistance in both their inpatient and outpatient programs. Detox assistance in nearly all Florida rehab facilities includes prescription-based medication to help individuals cope with challenging withdrawal symptoms as well as round-the-clock monitoring by a licensed doctor or nurse. This aspect of addiction recovery will usually take place onsite; however, some facilities may choose to offer them in a separate location. This approach ensures that individuals can get focused treatments that can significantly increase their chances of completing detox successfully. That said, detox assistance can help ease the following withdrawal symptoms associated with substance abuse cessation:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Memory problems
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Profuse sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hypertension
- Muscle aches
- Tremors
The severity of these symptoms, not to mention the type of symptoms an individual will encounter, can vary depending on how long they have been using. It is also worth noting that the specific substance that they were abusing before seeking treatment will also play a role in this regard as well.
HOW LONG WILL THE DETOX PROCESS LAST?
While the goal of any detox program is to help individuals safely and effectively achieve sobriety, the timeframe involved can vary from one person to the next. Whether they are provided onsite or via a separate location, detox programs offered by most Florida-based rehab facilities will last anywhere from 3 to 7 days. In most cases, this is enough time for drugs or alcohol to leave an individual’s system. During this time, the doctors and nurses in these programs will provide individuals with prescription-based medications to help them cope with severe withdrawal symptoms, some of which include
- Methadone
- Clonidine
- Suboxone
- Naltrexone
- Antabuse
- Acamprosate
- Benzodiazepines
- Antidepressants
The type of medication that a physician will prescribe to patients is determined based on the symptoms they are experiencing and the substance that their body is attempting to detox. Along with these popular medications, some Florida-based rehab facilities are now offering a relatively new medication called Lofexidine to help ease certain types of withdrawal symptoms. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, Lofexidine has been approved by the FDA, also known as the Food and Drug Administration, to help individuals cope with the physical symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal.
BOTTOM LINE
In summary, if you’re struggling with drugs or alcohol and live in Florida, there is no shortage of rehab facilities that you can turn to for help. And most of them, if not all, offer some form of detox assistance to make your journey toward sobriety slightly easier. To learn more about any of the information detailed in this article, consider reaching out to one of our friendly associates today at 855-936-4435.
