Opioid Addiction
Treatment in Florida

Anyone who is prescribed opioids for pain, someone with an injury or surgery, even dental work, or other relatively minor procedures or conditions can subject person to fall prey to opioid addiction, given the right circumstances and factors. Opioid addiction after surgery or injury is all too common. Someone with chronic pain or a severe injury is especially at risk. A person starts taking the medication as prescribed, but as tolerance and dependence develop, the person may take more and stronger opioids. If the euphoric effects play on the brain’s reward system, addiction is soon to follow. Illicit use of prescription opioids to get high is common also. Young people, some in high school or even as young as middle school, are common victims of illegal opioid use. Sometimes they start legally by being prescribed medication for pain. They may then move on to buying the drug illegally on the street or take their parent’s or another adult’s medication to get high. Before long, they become hopelessly addicted. The not fully developed brains of the young are even more susceptible to opioid addiction than an adult brain and can pave the way for a life-long struggle with addiction. A family history of addiction or alcoholism can be a predictor of a predisposition to opioid addiction, as can a history of trauma and the early use or abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

We hear about the opioid “epidemic,” but how many people actually are addicted to opioids? According to the CDC, 91 people die every day in the U.S. from an opioid overdose. The numbers for opioid misuse in 2016 for people ages 12 or older in our country are just as staggering; 11.8 million, 4.4% of the population, based on a SAMHSA study. These opioid epidemic statistics are also probably somewhat underreported, as people often are in denial and hide their addiction until it becomes very progressed. Which are the worst states for opioid addiction? According to a recent study by WalletHub, Washington DC has the worst drug problem in the country. After DC, Vermont, Colorado, Delaware, Rhode Island, Oregon, Connecticut, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Michigan follow in ranking as the top 10 states with the worst drug problem. The same study found West Virginia to have the highest number of opioid overdose deaths in the country per capita, with New Hampshire, Kentucky, Ohio, Rhode Island following, and Alabama having the most opioid prescriptions 100 people. With these opioid addiction statistics, it is clear that opioid addiction treatment needs to be a priority in the US. New and stronger regulations for prescribing opioids need to be put in place, and less addictive means of pain control and management need to be developed, in addition to better access to treatment and cracking down on illegal trafficking of opioids.

Opioid addiction can be professionally treated to help a person overcome their addiction and begin living a healthy, drug-free life. At Beachway Therapy Centers, we offer inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment and therapy for opioid addiction.

Our inpatient/residential treatment for opioid addiction provides patients with a safe and supportive drug-free environment to focus on their recovery. Patients have access to specialized physicians and counselors, as well as a group of peers who share the same goal. Beachway offers traditional therapies as well as unique holistic therapy such as equine or art therapy.

Outpatient treatment can be beneficial for helping patients readjust to their normal life following inpatient and residential treatment. Continued intensive outpatient treatment (or IOP) includes ongoing group and individual counseling, supervision, medication management, and more.

The first step in opioid addiction treatment is the drug and alcohol detox phase. Detox helps to flush the drugs out of your system safely while keeping you as comfortable as possible. We provide our patients with 24-hour nursing care and physician visits as needed. You will be carefully monitored and cared for during this period as withdrawal symptoms are extremely common and may be severe. This detox phase of recovery can last for a few days or multiple weeks depending on the severity of addiction. Medically supervised detox is important to ensure all vital signs are monitored and any health and safety concerns are addressed immediately. Medication to assist in the detox process and address any other medical and psychiatric needs can be appropriately prescribed by a psychiatrist, and ongoing medication management can be administered. After the initial detox is completed, usually in a few days, a period of at least four to six weeks of inpatient treatment is advisable. Residential treatment provides a supportive, drug-free environment, education about addiction and recovery, group and individual therapy, 12 Step and peer support, and a holistic, healing experience. After in-patient treatment, many people benefit from continued intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) and supportive “sober living” housing. This consists of continued group and individual counseling, supervised housing, continued 12 Step participation, and medication management. After completing IOP, continued, stepped-down, out-patient treatment should continue until the recovering addict has established a strong base for their recovery and a positive support network. A continuous and comprehensive program of recovery that gradually transitions from one level of care to the next, as seamlessly as possible, along with continuous 12 Step involvement, builds strong and stable sobriety that is less likely to succumb to relapse.

Because of the effects on the addict’s brain, there is a tremendous amount of denial and resistance to admitting they have a problem and getting treatment. The changes in the brain caused by the repetitive use of the opioid, on some level, make the addict convinced that without the drug they will die. They will go to any lengths to continue to use it, including lying, denying, stealing, etc. It is important to understand this and to avoid nagging, threatening or pleading with the addict. It will likely not work and possibly make matters worse, as well as frustrate both you and the addict. Having an open conversation about your concerns with them may be the best initial approach, followed by the suggestion to get a qualified medical opinion. If the person is willing, have them immediately speak to an addictions professional that can assess them appropriately. Do not wait, as they may change their mind. If they will not agree to this, a professional intervention may be beneficial. An interventionist will coordinate and facilitate a group meeting with family and close friends of the addict to tell the addict how their using is impacting their loved ones and to support the addict to get treatment. Stop enabling the addict by not doing things for them that they can do for themselves, not making excuses for them, not covering for them, not giving them money or not helping them get drugs. This is very important and can help them to realize they have a problem and need help. An addict can be incredibly persuasive and manipulative and it requires great strength and perseverance to deal with them. Groups like Al-Anon and Nar-Anon can help by providing peer support, education, and coping tools to manage the challenges of having an addict in your life. Professional counseling is also advisable. If you have a loved one who is an opioid addict, speak to one of the addiction specialists at Beachway Therapy Center by calling 877-284-0353 to discuss getting help.