Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment in Florida: What You Need to Know

If it seems like substance abuse is a problem in Florida, it’s because it is. That’s the conclusion drawn in multiple studies that have examined drug abuse in the state. One of the more recent studies comes from the Florida Department of Health, the local agency responsible for protecting the public health and safety of residents and visitors of Florida. It revealed that the Sunshine State was home to some 7,827 drug overdose deaths in 2022 and currently ranks 18th in terms of states with the highest number of fatal drug overdoses. These overdose fatalities stem from alcoholism, misuse and abuse of prescription medications, and illicit street-level drug use.

The High Cost of Substance Abuse in Florida

To say that addiction is costing the state a great deal of money would be a gross understatement. Studies show that Florida paid an estimated $6.4 billion in addiction-related healthcare costs between 2016 and 2018, with Medicare paying approximately $2.16 billion and Medicaid and commercial insurance paying roughly $1.36 billion. Charities, family members of individuals struggling with addiction, and government programs that provide limited assistance for specific services not covered by other insurance picked up the remainder. The most widely used illicit drugs in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health, include the following:

• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Methamphetamine

Along with these commonly abused illicit drugs, excessive alcohol consumption is also a problem in Florida. The same applies to prescription drug misuse and abuse. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the following are among the most commonly diverted and abused prescription medications in Florida:

• Benzodiazepines, particularly Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin
• Hydrocodone, namely  Vicodin, Lorcet, and Lortab
• Oxycodone and OxyContin

Florida Counties Hard Hit by Substance Use Disorders

While the entire Sunshine State is dealing with substance use disorders, not to mention related crime and high healthcare costs, some counties are worse off than others. The most hard-hit county is Volusia County, which encompasses Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, and several other Florida cities. In 2021, the county had the highest number of fatal overdoses in the state. Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties tied for the third-highest rate of fatal drug overdoses in the state.

Pinellas County, namely St. Petersburg, had the highest number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths specifically. In 2021, fentanyl was reportedly the cause of death in 96% of drug overdose cases in the county. In the same year, St. Petersburg was also named the city with the most methamphetamine-related overdose deaths. Between January 2021 and June 2021, there were 193 meth-related overdose deaths in St. Petersburg, the highest number in the state.

Jacksonville and Pensacola, which are in Duval and Escambia County, respectively, reported the second and third-highest meth-related overdose deaths in 2021. Jacksonville had 142, and Pensacola had 124. With approximately 237 in total, Miami-Dade County, which includes Miami Beach, Miami, Hialeah, Homestead, and several other cities, reported the most cocaine-related overdose deaths in 2021.

Studies Show Many Floridians Are Taking Steps To End Their Struggles With Addiction

Some people are perfectly content living a life that revolves around drug or alcohol addiction, but others are not. Studies show many Floridians are turning to alcohol and drug rehab facilities across the state to get the help needed to break the cycle of addiction. For reference, an estimated 60,358 people sought substance use treatment from one of the more than 700 licensed rehab facilities in Florida in 2021. As of the writing of this article, Florida ranks number 45 among states for the share of its population seeking help overcoming addiction.

Of course, none of this is all that surprising. Florida doesn’t have the kind of issues that keep people in other states from getting the care they need to overcome addiction, such as exceedingly high treatment costs or long waiting lists for inpatient addiction recovery programs, which, by the way, are the type of programs Floridians struggling with addiction can benefit from the most.

What Is an Inpatient Addiction Recovery Program?

Also known as residential treatment, an inpatient addiction recovery program is an intensive form of care that requires individuals to remain at a specialized facility 24/7. Inpatient programs are ideal for individuals trying to end their relationship with hard-to-quit substances, such as alcohol, opioids, and methamphetamine. That’s because of the severe withdrawal symptoms associated with detox, which can begin within hours or days after someone stops using these substances. For reference, detox is the body’s natural way of ridding itself of drugs, alcohol, and other toxins when someone is trying to get clean. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms that people experience during detox include the following:

• Agitation
• Anxiety, depression, and paranoia
• Changes in appetite
• Confusion
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• General aches and pain
• Hallucinations
• Headaches
• Hypertension
• Insomnia and hypersomnia
• Intense drug cravings
• Irritability
• Muscle spasms
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Restlessness
• Seizures and tremors

How Inpatient Addiction Recovery Programs Provide Relief From Severe Withdrawal Symptoms and Improve Patient Outcomes

One of the most significant benefits of starting an inpatient addiction recovery program is medication-assisted treatment(MAT). Also known as medically-assisted detox, MAT involves the use of FDA-approved medications to help combat challenging withdrawal symptoms that often arise when individuals are going through an alcohol or drug detox. Some of the medications physicians provide in most Florida rehabs include antiemetics, acamprosate, benzodiazepines, disulfiram, suboxone, and antihypertensives.

Prescription electrolytes, methadone, and naloxone are also commonly prescribed. In addition to FDA-approved medications, MAT includes round-the-clock monitoring by medical professionals who can further manage withdrawal symptoms and promptly address emergent medical concerns should they arise. Regarding improving patient outcomes, available data shows that the average retention rate for individuals in a MAT program is 40% to 60%. In addition to MAT, inpatient programs in most Florida rehabs include the following:

• Addiction counseling – Because many people struggle with the psychological hurdles associated with overcoming addiction, many rehab centers offer addiction counseling with a licensed therapist. These counseling sessions typically consist of individual, group therapy, or family therapy psychotherapy sessions. The most popular forms of evidence-based psychotherapy for addiction recovery include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management (CM), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
• Structured daily activities – Studies show that too much idle time can give way to cravings and temptation when individuals are trying to break the cycle of addiction. For this reason, most Florida rehabs offer numerous structured activities to keep individuals focused on getting and staying clean. Some of these include addiction education courses, recreational activities, and access to support groups, which can go a long way toward fostering a sense of community and promoting healthy habits. These activities are often incorporated into various levels of care, including medical detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs (PHP).
• Long-term sobriety planning – Towards the end of an inpatient rehab program, most drug and alcohol rehabs help individuals create a personalized plan that will enable them to maintain sobriety once they return to their “normal” lives. Such a plan might include outlining a strategy for managing their finances, learning how to set boundaries with people in their lives who are still struggling with addiction, and finding job opportunities. This aftercare planning is crucial for successful long-term recovery. For some people, long-term sobriety planning might also include making arrangements to transition to a sober living home upon completing rehab.

How Long Does an Inpatient Addiction Recovery Program Last?

When it comes to inpatient care for drug addiction, treatment durations can vary. Some of the factors that dictate how long someone can or will need to remain in treatment include their unique struggles with addiction, the type of substance they are trying to quit, their individual needs and goals, and whether or not they have insurance. On average, most people spend between 30 and 90 days in an inpatient rehab program. However, 180 days is not exactly uncommon.

Conclusion

In summary, inpatient treatment programs at an addiction treatment center are a good fit for those who need help overcoming a severe addiction and for those who are not averse to recovering in a highly structured environment. If your loved one is struggling with addiction, consider speaking with a Recreate Life Counseling addiction expert today to learn more about treatment options and find out if this approach is right for them.

Published on: 2024-12-31
Updated on: 2024-12-31