Drug addiction is a serious disorder that affects millions of people. Just in the United States alone it is estimated that 21 million people are addicted to at least one substance. The presence of drug addiction in West Palm Beach, Florida, is why Ambrosia vows to make a difference at our drug rehab facilities. Drug addiction doesn’t just impact the person needing detox, it also takes a toll on families and the community. Fortunately, there is hope.
What is Drug Addiction?
Individuals who struggle with drug addiction do not lack morals or willpower.
Drug addiction is a complex disease that affects the mind and body. It is defined as the compulsive and repetitive use of one or more substances—usually drugs or alcohol—despite serious consequences for an individual’s health and life.
Drug addiction can occur even when someone doesn’t intend to become addicted. It can start with a casual drink after work or a prescription for painkillers after surgery. Over time, drugs change how the brain works, and larger and larger doses are required to achieve the same result. As drug use increases, so does the body’s need for it in order to function.
Luckily, drug addiction can be treated. Below you will see a list of the various types of drugs one can be addicted to.
Statistics for Drug Addiction in West Palm Beach, FL
Addiction affects millions of Americans every day, regardless of race, religion, gender, or economic status. Addiction is a disease that takes a heavy toll on the addict, families, and communities.
- 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 struggle with addiction to at least one substance.
- 1 in 8 Americans struggle with both drug addiction and alcohol addiction
- An estimated 5 million adults have a mental health disorder and substance abuse disorder
- Since 1999 over 841,000 people have died from a drug overdose
- Addiction to drugs and alcohol costs the economy $6740 billion annually
- In 2020, a record 93,331 people died from a drug overdose
Risk Factors for Drug Addiction
Addiction can happen to anyone, for any reason. For some people, who have no known risk factors, drug addiction may result from the use of prescription opioids to treat chronic pain. For others, addiction might result from taking someone else’s ADHD medication to help study for a test or after-work drinks that turn into dependency. However, there are several known risk factors, such as the age of first use and drug of choice, that may predispose a person to develop a drug addiction. Other risk factors include:
Genetics
Addiction tends to run in families. People who have addicted parents or family members are at greater risk of developing a drug addiction themselves. Researchers have found evidence that certain genes contribute to the likelihood that someone will develop an addiction. While hereditary factors are not the only reason someone might become addicted to drugs, they can serve as a warning flag.
Environment
There are a number of environmental factors that contribute to drug addiction. Studies have found that children who grow up in homes where they are exposed to things like domestic violence, trauma, substance abuse, and neglect are more likely to develop drug or alcohol addictions as adults.
Even for individuals who had safe and loving home environments growing up, their environment can play a role in the onset of addiction. Trauma, toxic home environments, physical or sexual assault, and domestic violence can play a role in the onset of addiction for adults.
Mental Health Disorders
Many people who struggle with drug addiction also have a mental health disorder — and vice versa. People may reach for drugs in order to self-medicate or deal with the effects of an undiagnosed mental health disorder. For individuals who are at risk for developing a mental health disorder, such as those with a family history of depression or anxiety, substance abuse may trigger the onset of the disorder.
What is Drug Withdrawal?
When someone uses drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time, addiction may occur. Withdrawal is the combination of physical and psychological symptoms that a person experiences when they stop or reduce drugs or alcohol that their bodies have become dependent on. Withdrawal can last for several hours to several days or weeks. Symptoms vary from person to person, and their occurrence depends on a number of factors including what drug is used and for how long.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include:
- Mood changes
- Appetite changes
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Sleep disturbances, including vivid dreams and nightmares
- Tremors
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Rapid heartbeat
- High blood pressure
Generally, it is recommended that someone who struggles with addiction does not attempt to detox on their own. Instead, seeking out effective and safe treatment to address withdrawal symptoms and access recovery treatment is the best course of action.
Rehab Options for Drug Addiction in West Palm Beach
Addiction is unique to each individual who is struggling with substance abuse disorder. In order to successfully treat and overcome addiction, addicts and their families should know what options are available—and which will work best for them. There are several treatment options that are effective in addressing immediate and long-term needs for addiction recovery.
Along with addiction intervention, these include:
Detox
Detox is often the first step in overcoming drug addiction. It involves the safe and gradual removal of drugs and alcohol from the body in order to return to a drug-free state. Detox provides a safe environment for people struggling with substance abuse that may experience withdrawal symptoms while making them as comfortable as possible during the process.
Detox is not generally considered a stand-alone treatment. It addresses the immediate need to help a person rid their bodies of drugs and alcohol. However, longer-term treatment options are often necessary to address the underlying issues that led someone to addiction.
Inpatient or Residential Treatment
For individuals who have tried to get sober on their own, but have not found success, inpatient or residential treatment can be highly effective in helping people get and stay sober. Treatment plans will vary, depending on the needs of the person, but will use evidence-based methods that address the physical, psychological, and social needs of the individual.
While the idea of residential treatment may seem scary, there are many benefits to using this recovery tool.
- Inpatient treatment provides a safe and comfortable environment, away from outside triggers and temptations to use.
- The structured nature of residential rehab provides an effective groundwork for continued recovery progress even after residential treatment.
- Addiction specialists and clinical staff are available to residents round the clock to provide support while monitoring health and safety.
- Residential treatment also provides a host of holistic amenities for self-improvement, from yoga to meditation, nutrition, and life skills classes.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)
Intensive outpatient treatment programs (IOPs) provide many of the benefits and much of the structure of residential rehab but offer flexibility for individuals who might not be able to commit to inpatient treatment. IOPs are a great treatment option for people who:
- Have outside commitments, such as children, work, or school, that prevent them from entering into residential treatment.
- Have completed residential treatment, but may not feel ready to fully return to day-to-day living. IOPs offer a safe step down from residential treatment.
Intensive outpatient programs have proven to be an effective treatment option to help people maintain their sobriety. IOPs for drug addiction in West Palm Beach offer many of the same benefits of residential treatment, but a few hours a day, several days a week. These benefits include:
- Individual and group counseling
- Continued monitoring for drugs and alcohol
- Case management
- 24-hour crisis management
- Continued education and life skills
- Family therapy
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment offers people struggling with addiction the most flexibility for getting help. Generally speaking, outpatient recovery is for individuals who have completed residential rehab and IOP; or for people who have entered into the maintenance phase of their sobriety journey. A great deal of evidence indicates that people who actively engage in their recovery are able to maintain their sobriety.
The primary benefits of outpatient treatment include:
Flexibility — Probably the biggest benefit of outpatient is that it fits your schedule. Choosing when and where you attend meetings or therapy allows you to tailor your treatment to life.
Privacy — Because you are working one-on-one with trained addiction specialists, counselors, or treatment providers, you do not need to worry about anyone finding out you have entered into substance abuse treatment. Privacy also allows you to more fully open up about your struggles with addiction.
Individualized Attention — One of the hallmarks of inpatient and IOP treatment is working in group settings, to help establish a peer support network. However, that can leave you feeling like you’re not getting the focused attention you may want. When you enter an outpatient program, you work one-on-one with your care team, giving you focused individualized attention.
Continued Skills Building — Outpatient treatment lets you put skills you may have learned in residential treatment to the test, in a safe environment that supports your recovery. Additionally, your treatment team will continue to work with you to build new skills, including coping mechanisms and health habits.
Cost — Generally speaking, outpatient treatment is less expensive than residential or intensive outpatient programs. Additionally, insurance covers many types of outpatient programs.
Treatment for Drug Addiction in West Palm Beach, FL
If you or are a loved one are struggling with drug addiction, it may difficult to admit you need help. But asking for help can get you on the road to a better life. Ambrosia Treatment Centers offer extensive evidence-based drug rehab treatments in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie and Singer Island, Florida. Ambrosia will support you and help you get you on the path to sobriety. For more information about our treatment options or to discuss contact us today to speak with our addiction specialists. Whether it’s prescription drugs or alcohol addiction, we can help. Don’t put off living your best sober life any longer.
