In 2017, 1.7 million Florida adults admitted to using illicit substances, and 340,000 said they had used cocaine in the previous year. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that the most commonly abused drugs in Florida are marijuana, opioids like Vicodin and OxyContin, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines. Nearly 68% of the state’s 4,698 drug-related deaths in 2018 were due to opioid overdose.
Table of Contents
Types of Drug Rehab Programs
A variety of inpatient and outpatient detox and rehab programs are available in Fort Pierce for people who want to get sober. Many users will visit a detox center before starting rehab. Before starting recovery, it can be helpful to become familiar with the different kinds of available treatment options.
Detox Centers
Detox centers help users begin recovery in a safe, comfortable setting. The process of removing drugs and their toxic byproducts from the body will precede the onset of withdrawal symptoms, which can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. People who have developed a physical dependence or high tolerance to drugs may react with unpleasant side effects like headaches, an upset stomach, moist skin, shaking, sleeplessness, and irritability when they stop taking them.
When a person begins detox, medical professionals will assess their condition and develop a personalized treatment plan. People who are in danger of relapsing will need compassionate supervision and medical support while they break their habit.
Outpatient Detox Centers
For patients with a low level of physical dependence on drugs, outpatient treatment can provide steady professional guidance to help them through withdrawal and set them on the right path forward. Outpatient detox facilities are walk-in or by-appointment clinics that treat people during business hours without keeping them on-site overnight. These facilities are appropriate for people whose addictions pose no immediate danger.
Inpatient Detox Centers
Inpatient detox facilities are appropriate for users whose addictions compromise or endanger their well-being. Most inpatient detox centers monitor and keep patients onsite for a predetermined length of time. The detox process sets the stage for recovery, where a person learns to live without having drugs in their system. It does not include the rehabilitation that teaches people how to achieve long-term sobriety.
Rehab Centers
Rehab centers teach people to respond to the world when they are not using drugs. Addicts learn how to recognize and overcome triggers that lead to drug use. They also learn to cope with difficult situations, protect their mental health, play to their strengths, and build self-confidence over time. Most rehab programs offer treatment over the course of a few weeks or months and prepare patients for a lifetime of sobriety.
Outpatient rehab facilities also help people achieve long-term sobriety by offering many kinds of counseling and treatment. Outpatient care helps people successfully contribute at work, attend school, and spend time with family while they recover. As patients progress through rehab, they become more self-reliant and less dependent on treatment.
Here are some features of outpatient therapy:
- Patients can choose from many different types of counseling and therapy at different levels of intensity.
- Evening or weekend sessions are available to complement people’s everyday schedules.
- Many outpatient treatments also address mental health issues that coincide with addiction.
Outpatient treatment may be insufficient when:
- People need 24-hour support.
- People have difficulty attending and fully participating in sessions.
- People need intensive, monitored treatment and medical attention.
Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient rehab centers are residential facilities that treat people with severe addictions and other mental health issues. They help patients build sober lifestyles through reflection, healthy habits, personal growth, and self-reliance. The residential setting eliminates triggers and distractions that can affect the efficacy of treatment. Licensed inpatient facilities have health care professionals on staff who can provide medical treatment 24 hours a day. Most treatment programs include detoxification and provide a healthy setting for recovery. Short-term programs can last from three to six weeks, while long-term programs can last up to a year. As patients progress through rehab, they learn to transition to living in normal society while retaining access to counseling and support services.
Many inpatient rehab centers:
- Provide safe housing, medical attention, and support without requiring hospitalization.
- Include structured, holistic treatment that addresses the circumstances that contribute to addiction.
Inpatient rehab requires total commitment and may not be suitable when:
- People cannot stop working or going to school, leave their families, or otherwise separate from their daily lives.
- People do not respond well to intense, rigidly structured treatment.
Choosing a Treatment Provider
Discussing available treatment options is a key part of choosing a treatment provider. Recovering users may complete a pre-intake screening to help determine which type and level of care will be a good match.
Admissions and Intake
When a person arrives at a residential treatment facility, they meet the staff and complete administrative steps like paperwork, inspection, and consultation that prepare them for success.
Paperwork
New patients typically submit identification and financial information.
Inspection
The staff inspects the patient and their belongings. They confiscate forbidden items like illicit substances, drug paraphernalia, provocative clothing, pornography, electronic devices, cigarettes, and incense.
Consultation
During consultation, patients can ask questions and acclimate to the facility. Ideally, they make warm connections with the staff and feel safe in their environment.
Assessment
Health care professionals assess the patient’s degree of addiction. They take account of the patient’s physical and emotional health and create a customized treatment plan that optimizes the patient’s chances of success and healing.
Stages of Recovery
Recovery is a multi-stage process that begins before a person starts receiving treatment and continues after they transition back into normal life. The five stages of recovery can be defined as follows:
Stage 1: Awareness
When a drug user becomes aware that their habits are causing problems in their lives, they admit to themselves that it’s time to change. Awareness is often preceded by a crisis that makes a person reconsider their relationship to drugs.
Stage 2: Consideration
Once a user recognizes their addiction, they may reflect on their past actions and think about how to move forward. They may see that they have damaged themselves and people they know, try to understand their addiction, and think about seeking outside help.
Stage 3: Preparing for Recovery
A user starts preparing for recovery when they seek support in the outside world. They may reach out to friends, family, or recovered addicts, do online research, and call or visit a rehab center to learn about rehab programs. The user sets goals and takes action to strengthen their resolve and prepare for the challenging road ahead.
Stage 4: Early Recovery
The user chooses a recovery program, starts rehab, and actively pursues sobriety. They stop consuming addictive substances, endure withdrawal, and get support to mitigate uncomfortable and painful symptoms. Recovering addicts start therapy to better understand the underlying causes of their addiction and learn how to tackle obstacles outside of treatment. Medication, clinical therapy, yoga, and meditation may be included as part of the program. At first, they may be enthusiastic and optimistic about sobriety, but this initial state can be followed by mood swings, absentmindedness, and other difficulties. Recovering addicts may experience cravings, anger, and depression and find themselves in danger of relapsing. Recovering addicts who make it through these challenges can commit to a lifetime of abstinence.
Stage 5: Active Recovery and Maintenance
Addiction is a chronic condition without a cure. The long-term goal of recovery is to actively maintain abstinence over the course of a lifetime. Every patient should have a customized plan for aftercare that will help them manage the thoughts and temptations that influence their behavior. They also need to establish a support system that will be available in good and bad times. Ongoing counseling, membership in a support group, and occupational assistance will help former users sustain a healthy lifestyle. Recovering addicts may feel more confident as they accept sobriety as a continuous process. They will work to prevent relapse and address any underlying problems that may make abstinence difficult.
Making the Most of Rehabilitation
To stay motivated during rehab, users need to be in a program that helps them recognize tangible successes over time. Believing in and feeling good about the rehab process will encourage users to follow through with their program. The program needs to be realistic and tailored to each addict’s distinct challenges. An accredited program may be the most reliable source of quality treatment, but users should always research their options to make sure that they choose a legitimate program with a high rate of success. Some tips for making the most of rehab include:
Choosing the Right Therapist
Addicts should choose a therapist they can trust. Openly sharing thoughts and experiences will help the counselor make helpful suggestions. Asking questions proactively can be helpful if a recovering drug user feels like their plan needs adjustment.
Connecting With Peers
Rehab is a place to make new friends, offer support, and be supported by other people in recovery. Camaraderie can help ease cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and feelings of isolation. People who honestly share their stories and make an effort to listen will benefit from the session while helping others.
Being Mindful
Being mindful of the present, practicing gratitude, and staying focused are keys to recovery. Sobriety requires patience, determination, and a willingness to face challenges along the way.
Avoiding Triggers
Most addicts have emotional triggers that lead to using drugs. People who can identify and avoid their triggers are much more likely to stay sober.
Insurance Coverage for Drug Rehab
Recovering addicts who are concerned about paying for rehab may be relieved to find out that health insurance is likely to pay for at least some of the treatment costs. They should learn more about their own current insurance plan or shop for options on the health care marketplace before starting a program. Medicare and Medicaid also provide coverage for certain kinds of treatment. Many services, like evaluation, intervention, counseling, therapy, clinic visits, medication, detox, and rehab, become more affordable when they are covered by insurance, so it’s important to explore every option. Most rehab centers will explain which insurance plans will cover treatment and discuss payment options for care.
Begin Again at Miracles Recovery Center in Fort Pierce, Florida
People who seek help for substance abuse in Fort Pierce have a great many options to choose from. With courage, care, and support, drug users can begin their recovery and journey to wellness. The right treatment plan will make a better life possible, and the compassionate staff at Miracles Recovery Center can help. If you or someone you know is ready to be free of drug addiction, contact us. We’ll help open up the path to a better life.