Understanding the Opioid Crisis
The opioid crisis is a severe problem across the U.S., and Florida is no exception. In 2021, nearly 8,000 drug overdose deaths were reported, with opioids involved in about 70% of cases. Fentanyl, a particularly dangerous opioid, accounted for more than 60% of opioid-related deaths in the state.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a sharp increase in opioid misuse due to heightened stress, isolation, and limited access to in-person healthcare services.
If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid misuse, participating in a medically supervised detox and rehab is crucial for overcoming addiction and achieving a healthier life.
What Is Opioid Addiction?
The term “opioid” refers to a class of painkillers or narcotics interacting with opioid receptors in the brain. They are either extracted from the poppy plant or synthesized in a laboratory.
Although the term “opiate” is sometimes used interchangeably with “opioid,” opiates only describe drugs that were derived from poppies, not synthetic medications or narcotics.
Opioid drugs are overwhelmingly prescribed to treat acute pain, but they might be used for other medical purposes, such as suppressing severe coughing or treating diarrhea. Because of their extremely high potential for addiction, prescription opioid use should be monitored closely and never used as a long-term solution.
The following are some of the most common medical-grade or brand-name opioid drugs:
Though many opioids are available in a prescription form, some are explicitly produced for street use. Heroin is a type of opioid that’s illicitly manufactured and dispensed. It is frequently taken in place of prescription painkillers because it’s cheaper and often easier to access.
Because heroin is made illegally and consumed dangerously (injected, smoked, or snorted through the nose), there is a significantly greater risk of overdose, experiencing severe medical reactions, or being infected with potentially lethal diseases like HIV. Heroin is also likely to contain highly toxic additives or additional narcotics.
Addiction and misuse are potential side effects of all opioids. Moreover, when used in conjunction with alcohol, stimulants like cocaine, or other substances, there are a variety of potentially dangerous reactions and consequences.
For these reasons and more, it is crucial to seek high-quality and compassionate opioid rehab in Florida.
The Effects of an Opioid Addiction
When opioid molecules circulate through the blood and enter the brain, they attach to receptors on the surface of specific cells. Physiologically, the subsequent reaction initiated in the brain’s reward center mimics the pleasure response. This response occurs because opioids trigger the release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.
Dopamine unleashes a euphoric sensation that the user might want to repeat. However, the quantities released from opioid use are far greater than what would occur naturally.
If opioids are used continually, the body eventually adapts, causing the user to require higher doses to produce the original experience. Over time, constant use affects the body’s ability to self-regulate, and dependency occurs. As increased dosages are needed to achieve the desired effect of the drug, the chance of accidental overdose dramatically increases.
Every individual’s case is unique, but generally speaking, opioid addiction involves both physiological and psychological components. Symptoms of the condition might be so gradual that they go unnoticed until they become difficult to ignore.
Signs of Opioid Addiction and Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal
Warning signs that someone might need customized opioid rehab in Florida include:
- Excessive or prolonged use of the drug.
- Attempts to reduce or control drug use have failed.
- Extensive efforts in acquiring, using, and recovering from drugs.
- Extreme urges to use the drug.
- Inability to perform duties at work, school, or home because of drug use.
- Recurring or ongoing personal or social challenges caused by drug use.
- Using drugs in circumstances that could lead to significant personal harm, such as while driving.
- Using the drug regardless of resulting physical and emotional deterioration.
- Experiencing physical withdrawal symptoms after cessation of drug use.
- Abandoning important or valued activities to use or acquire the drug.
- Requiring increased dosages to achieve the desired effect of the drug.
Indications that a friend or loved one might be struggling with opioid addiction include the following signs:
- Mental impairment
- Dramatic mood fluctuations
- Extreme drowsiness
- Constantly seeking prescription medications or claiming they lost their prescription
- Taking an opioid medication in unprescribed or non-medical ways (snorting or injecting)
- Neglecting personal hygiene
- Engaging in high-risk behavior
Opioid addiction leads to dependency very quickly. An opioid-dependent individual cannot stop taking the drug for fear of experiencing debilitating withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include the following:
- Intense pain in the muscles and bones
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sleep disruptions
- Tremors
- Chills
- Muscle spasms
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
Opioid withdrawal symptoms intensify as the use of the substance increases.
Opioid withdrawal is generally not as life-threatening as suddenly stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines. Nevertheless, untreated medical complications, such as severe vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration, can lead to a medical crisis during unsupervised detox.
Detoxification under close medical supervision is vital to ensuring a safe and comfortable process.
How Does a Medication-Assisted Treatment Work on Opioids?
Our treatment modalities for opioid rehab in Florida include medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings.
Our skilled clinicians continually monitor and adjust the dosage of these medications based on your unique needs throughout the entire process and beyond at our opioid detox center in Florida.
Common medications used in MAT for opioids include:
- Buprenorphine—to help reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and overdose.
- Naltrexone—to prevent the addictive effects of opioids and help individuals maintain abstinence.
What Is the Process to Detox from Opiates?
The detox process varies from person to person, depending on several factors. However, during our comprehensive and medically monitored opioid detox in Florida, patients typically experience the following:
- Evaluation—to assess the individual’s physical and mental health and determine the appropriate level of care and treatment.
- Stabilization—to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings using FDA-approved medications.
- Transition to inpatient opioid rehab—to continue the recovery process via ongoing medication therapies, behavioral therapies, counseling, and family support groups.
Opioid Addiction Treatment Options
Opioid addiction treatment programs are part of a long-term recovery process. Ongoing support at an accredited opioid treatment center is critical to maintain long-lasting sobriety.
When you choose our medical detox center in Florida, you get customized detox and treatment modalities to address the unique physical and psychological aspects of addiction. These treatments generally include the following:
- Comprehensive assessment and evaluation—to help healthcare professionals create a customized opioid rehab and addiction treatment program tailored to their unique needs.
- Medically monitored detox—to help individuals remove opioids from their bodies while safely reducing withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings.
- Inpatient opioid rehab treatment—to help individuals develop proper coping mechanisms, stress management, and life skills that support long-lasting recovery.
- Continuing care planning—to provide the exact level of continuing care needed for as long it’s needed.
Beach House Center: Our Opioid Rehab Approach
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid dependency, you’re right to be concerned. Our inpatient treatment center offers customized programs with a low patient-to-therapist ratio to address the core factors contributing to opioid addiction. Our specialized opioid rehab and addiction treatment programs include holistic bio-bed biosound therapy, massage therapy, meditation and yoga.
The team at Beach House is at the forefront of the latest opioid treatment innovations. Under the appropriate guidance and with dedicated clinical support, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) gives many patients a highly effective addiction solution that can dramatically reduce the likelihood of reusing opioids.
Our alumni program provides ongoing support throughout the recovery journey to further that goal.
At our rehab centers for opioid use, we believe the opposite of addiction is love and connection. Learn to love yourself again, discover the powerful connections within the recovery community, and find freedom from addiction. To learn more about our opioid addiction treatment programs, please contact our admissions counselors today.