The fight for addiction recovery in Florida is an everyday occurrence, just as it might be in other states along the U.S. Countless recovery centers across the U.S. offer programs designed to help addicted individuals through something like an alcohol detox program.
To become more familiar with the recovery centers that offer an alcohol detox program, you can search locally. However, at Chapel Hill Detox, we offer a comprehensive approach to addiction recovery and alcohol detox programs.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction
In Florida, there are many alcohol detox programs available, but not many individuals know when they have become overly dependent and addicted to a substance like alcohol.
There can be many signs, including physical, behavioral, and emotional. Some of the most popular signs of addiction include:
- Change in eating habits that results in weight loss
- Overactive or underactive
- Missing work, school, or appointments
- Loss of interest in activities
- Relationship issues with family, friends, or a partner
- Excessive runny nose and dilated pupils
- Disruptive sleep patterns
- Lack of personal hygiene
- Acting isolated or secretive
- Easily irritable
- Placing blame
- Creating diversions to avoid certain discussion topics
- Denial
Those who have already completed the process of an alcohol detox program can still face physical and psychological features. However, after starting the initial process of a detox, the symptoms may vary as signs of withdrawal differ from signs of addiction.
Symptoms of withdrawal are usually self-diagnosable. Popular signs and symptoms of withdrawal can include:
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Delirium
- Depression
- Seizures
- Insomnia
- Sensitivity to pain
The process of recovery takes time and support from family and friends. A detox will work best when the addicted individual surrounds themselves with people who will act as a support system. Alcoholism continues to be one of the nation’s largest affairs.
An alcohol detox in Florida can be just as difficult as one managed in other states. The best way to avoid alcohol or drugs may be to change your daily routine and the usual people seen every day.
Addiction Statistics In Florida
In Florida, there are about 3,000 deaths a year related to addiction and overdose. That means there are more deaths reported from addiction than the average automobile accident or gun violence.
Even more so, about 1.5 million Floridians are using illicit drugs in a day at any given point. That totals approximately 8% of the population in the U.S. according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
In just 2017, more than 5,400 Floridians died from an overdose; in the past year, more than 24,000 Floridians sought treatment for alcohol addiction.
As a growing number of Floridians become addicted to substances like alcohol, we can work to combat this number with programs like the ones offered at Chapel Hill Detox.
How Alcohol Detox Programs Work
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An assisted detox will be performed by licensed medical professionals and their teams of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical staff, or therapists. The patient should not feel at risk while undergoing an alcohol detox.
A medical detox — or an alcohol detox — administered by a team of professionals will most likely use medications. Furthermore, they will initiate other care methods to help the individual’s body get rid of the toxic substance.
The use of medication in a detox allows the body a chance to recover. This is important as the next step of substance use treatment or rehab can be challenging without full-body recovery.
In the process of addiction recovery, a medical detox is the first step to overcoming a substance use problem. To simply put it, a detox works by ridding the body of toxic substances while prepping it for the next step in the recovery process.
Before one initiates a medical detox, withdrawal symptoms will most likely occur. These symptoms can be uncomfortable or life-threatening and happen after you stop consumption of a toxic substance.
Expectations
In a detox setting, the patient should expect to be accompanied by a medical professional throughout the process. Patients should also expect to be treated with certain medications that can combat serious withdrawal symptoms and attend counseling sessions.
Those who are addicted to alcohol or opioids will find the withdrawal process more challenging; it can even become a life-threatening situation if not treated properly.
If you are suffering from a high-risk alcohol or opioid situation, seek a medical detox as these can save your life.
Medication
Most individuals who are addicted and experience withdrawal symptoms can be treated naturally without the use of medication; however, those who consume high amounts of alcohol will find it much harder to achieve a successful detox without the help of medication.
The use of medication during a detox can help subside withdrawal symptoms. Whether it be an alcohol detox or a drug detox, medication can be very helpful to the individual facing withdrawal. In a natural detox, medication is not used to subdue the symptoms faced with when detoxing.
Medication in an alcohol detox program can actually mimic the effects of alcohol. By doing this, the medication helps ease withdrawal symptoms, co-occurring disorders, and restlessness in a patient.
In high-risk cases, a medical professional may recommend an addicted individual stay at a hospital or detox center while attempting detox.
Before an alcohol detox can begin, medical professionals will evaluate a patient and determine which course of treatment will work best. Some doctors may send a patient home with medication and have them attempt a detox in a familiar environment.
Those who suffer from more severe withdrawal symptoms are encouraged to attend an alcohol detox program or clinic. In an alcohol detox program, the addicted individual will get the support needed to help guide them. Even more so, they will be encouraged to continue the alcohol detox program and find stabilization in their life.
Side Effects of An Alcohol Detox
Generally, a patient will experience the most significant side effects within the first few days of the withdrawal process. Some of those side effects can include:
- Body tremors and shakes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia
- Sweating profusely
- Anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
After the initial phase of an alcohol detox program, the patient will experience a longer period of withdrawal symptoms. Over the course of the next few months, the brain and body of the addicted individual will slowly begin to regulate itself and gain normal function again. Medical professionals will refer to this longer process as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) and can include symptoms such as:
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Restlessness
Treatment Options Available After Detox
Book an AppointmentThe idea of an alcohol detox is to rid the body of toxic alcoholic or drug-related substances. After one undergoes the process, there are many follow-up opportunities that can help sustain abstinence.
Some treatment options may include:
Individual Therapy
This is the most popular form of therapy and is best for those who need to focus on themselves. This therapy will include one-on-one sessions with a therapist in an office setting.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is hosted by more than one therapist and includes a group of like-minded individuals. In these sessions, the members of the group will develop communication and socialization skills; members will learn to express themselves and accept criticism.
Inpatient Programs
Inpatient programs include 24-hour supervision for those going through the detox process and is great for those who have high-risk withdrawal symptoms. An inpatient therapy setting is beneficial to patients who are keen on becoming sober individuals but need supervision to maintain sobriety. In this therapy, one can most likely complete an inpatient alcohol detox successfully and move on to the next step in recovery.
Residential Treatment Programs
These are for those individuals who still need supervision but not as close as those in an inpatient therapy setting. This program is normally held in personal settings like a family home or office where the patient’s focus is still on maintaining sobriety.
Partial Hospitalization Treatment
Partial hospitalization program (PHP) settings take place in a treatment facility or center where individuals attend therapy and skill-building sessions with like-minded individuals.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
Intensive outpatient programs allow the individual who is working towards sobriety to continue their daily life and go about their normal routine. However, if the patient’s sobriety is affected by their normal routine, the patient will have to alter their daily patterns.
If none of these options seem to be enough, try a vitamin and diet change to help get the right nutrition to support the road to recovery.
Contact Chapel Hill Detox Today
Understanding the hard facts about alcohol and the effects it causes in the brain and central nervous system can be difficult. In addition to understanding the effects of alcohol, one should be aware of the importance an alcohol detox program can provide. If you struggle with determining the best course of action or don’t know where to start on your detox journey, contact us for help today.