Drug Addiction in Florida
Florida is known as being an American epicenter of drug abuse and addiction. If you currently reside in Florida, you have likely witnessed the detrimental effect that widespread drug abuse has on the population. Southern Florida – specifically Miami – used to be extremely hard hit by cocaine abuse and addiction. In recent years, opioids have taken the spotlight. In fact, Florida citizens have some of the highest rates of opiate abuse and addiction throughout the entire United States. Over the course of the past several years, many innocent men and women residing in Florida have lost their lives to overdose-related death. Even a greater number of individuals have wound up in emergency rooms and have done serious harm to themselves and others. Take a look at the following facts relating to drug addiction in Florida, and see for yourself why it is so extremely important that those who have been struggling with drug abuse or addiction seek the professional care they both need and deserve.
- Fatalities relating to prescription painkillers have been on the rise. In 2014, there were 889 deaths reported in Florida that directly involved prescription opioid narcotics. By 2017, this number had risen to 1,272 deaths.
- There has been a significant increase in synthetic opioid-related deaths from 2012 to 2017. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is frequently used to cut heroin in order to increase its street value. Fentanyl has been responsible for a sharp increase in overdose-related deaths over the course of the past decade. There were a reported 162 synthetic opioid-related deaths in 2012, and a reported 2,126 reported deaths in 2017. This equates to a staggering 1600% increase.
- The amount of Floridians struggling with a substance abuse disorder is honestly shocking. Between 2013 and 2014, a shocking 410,000 Florida residents reported struggling with a severe drug abuse or addiction disorder. It was also reported that 8% of all Floridians currently struggle with a severe drug addiction. This equates to roughly 1.5 million Florida residents – and keep in mind, these are just the reported cases.
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome is an extremely significant issue in Florida. Neonatal abstinence syndrome – or NAS – refers to a disorder caused by opiate abuse during pregnancy. Between 2004 and 2014, the rates of NAS in Florida increased a staggering 500%. Florida experienced 2,320 NAS-related deaths in 2016 alone.
- Many Floridians have been caught driving while high on drugs. It was reported that in 2018, there were a total of 422 deaths in the state of Florida that were directly attributed to driving under the influence of a drug. Interestingly enough, marjuana was the drug that was most commonly involved in drug-related, accidental motor vehicle deaths.
- The rates of underage drinking and drug abuse are very high statewide. The Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey reported that rates of underage drug abuse increased in Florida and decreased nationwide. Roughly 39% of underaged girls reported drinking or using drugs while slightly over 34% of underaged boys reported the same.
- Despite the fact that rates of cocaine abuse were higher in the 80s, cocaine is still a major problem throughout Southern Florida. While medical professionals and law enforcement officers have shifted their focus away from cocaine and onto opiates, cocaine is still a major problem statewide. The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association reported that from 2015 to 2016, the number of fatalities that directly involved cocaine rose from 1,834 to 2,882 – this equates to an increase well over 50%.
Alcoholism in Florida
Drug addiction is not the only health-related concern that Floridians are currently facing. Alcohol abuse is also on the rise. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported that roughly 16% of Florida residents binge drink on a regular basis. As the number of accidental deaths continues to rise (such as deaths that occur after drinking excessively and getting behind the wheel of a car), the number of deaths that result from alcohol-related health complications also continuously increases. From 2006 to 2010, a total of 1,709 Floridians lost their lives to alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. There were 79 liver disease-related deaths during this time period, and 170 deaths related to alcohol-induced stroke.
Over the course of the past decade, Florida has gained a reputation for being an opioid-heavy state – and this is for good reason. A good deal of residents and transplants struggle with opioid addiction, and many of the treatment center admissions in Florida directly involve opioid narcotics of some kind (for the most part, either prescription painkillers, heroin or fentanyl, a synthetic opioid). However, the rates of alcohol abuse are also extremely high statewide, and it is very important that alcohol abuse is addressed as well. If you or someone you love has been struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism, help is available. We at Chapel Hill Detox understand the severity of substance abuse in Florida, and we have developed an effective drug and alcohol detox program as a result. We provide quality clinical care to those who live in Florida, the east coast and the remainder of the US. The rates of substance abuse are on the rise, and the number of Floridians seeking treatment is fairly minimal – but this is certainly not because help is not available. It is important to find a reputable and accredited treatment center at your earliest possible convenience. Addiction is a progressive disease, and if it is left untreated it will only continue to get worse – never better.
Chapel Hill Detox
When it comes to medical detox in Southern Florida, there are numerous things that set us apart. First of all, we offer highly individualized treatment in a relaxed, private setting. We offer a host of retreat-style amenities, ensuring that each individual client will be as comfortable as possible. Our team of experienced and compassionate physicians is triple-certified, and the level of quality clinical care we provide is truly unmatched. Our physicians have 30 years of combined clinical experience, and offer a level of expertise that cannot be found anywhere else. One of the amenities we offer is a fully-stocked, state-of-the-art kitchen and 5-star, chef prepared meals. Nutrition is a major part of successful detox and of long-term recovery, and we believe in teaching our patients the importance of a balanced and nutrient-dense diet from the very first phase of treatment. We offer family therapy and counseling services to the loved ones of our clients, seeing as addiction is a comprehensive disease that affects every aspect of life (therefore, recovery must be comprehensive as well). Our staff is both experienced and compassionate. We believe in treating each individual with the respect he or she deserves. The truth is, many of our staff members have either experienced addiction firsthand or have witnessed one of their own loved ones struggle at the hands of addiction. This allows for an empathy and/or sympathy that few treatment teams can offer.
If you or someone you love has been struggling at the hands of substance dependency and needs help to quit, Chapel Hill Detox is available to help. To learn more about our medical detox program or facility, please give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you and answering any questions you may have.