Miracles Recovery
The Growing Danger of Synthetic Opioids
The Growing Danger of Synthetic Opioids

Addiction in the U.S. is at an all-time high. Half of Americans aged 12 and older have used an illicit drug in the past year, and since 2000, nearly 700,000 people have died from overdoses. Dangerous substances like fentanyl, ISO, and xylazine are increasingly common—while fentanyl and ISO can be reversed with Naloxone, xylazine cannot. In 2021, overdose deaths hit a record 108,000, with 75% linked to synthetic opioids. With street drugs now more lethal than ever, seeking help from trusted treatment centers like Miracles Recovery in Florida is crucial.

Most Commonly Abused Drugs in Florida

Florida has a high rate of opioid use. However, many other illicit substances are also used within the state, including cocaine, MDMA and Meth. In addition to those substances, individuals should also be aware of many of the newer drugs that have made their way onto the streets, including:

image

Flakka or bath salts, which can be cut with anything, including rat poison.

image

Kratom, which is an edible leaf that comes from Thailand.

image

Spice, which is often sold in gas stations as incense and purchased by teens to smoke.

image

Ketamine, which is still popular and often referred to as angel dust, PCP, vitamin K or Special K.

image

Smiles, which is a different version of N-Bomb. It is a psychedelic drug that was first noticed in 2003.

image

It’s dangerous because it’s a hallucinogen and an amphetamine. The amphetamine component can lead to overdoses.

How Substance Use Disorder Affects Families

Substance use disorder isn’t only harmful to the person using the illicit substances. It also negatively affects families.

image

Families often feel frustrated, helpless and overwhelmed when one of their family members has an addiction.

image

The loved one’s addiction often erodes trust within the family unit due to lying, manipulative behavior and even theft.

image

The family’s financial stability is often significantly eroded due to the loved one’s continued purchase of illicit substances.

image

Family members who are addicted often fail to accomplish their responsibilities. They may not look after the children or be able to hold a job.

image

The other family members may knowingly or unknowingly enable the person’s behaviors by giving them money, hiding their actions and making excuses for them.

image

Children who grow up in households with addiction are more likely to develop addictions themselves.

Basics of Addiction Treatment

Addiction treatment usually happens in three stages. First is detoxification, where the person stops using the substance and allows it to leave the body, often with medication to ease withdrawal. Next is rehabilitation, which involves therapy, education on addiction, and holistic treatments like yoga, meditation, and nutrition counseling. The final stage is aftercare, which helps manage addiction as a chronic disease through ongoing therapy, relapse prevention, and support groups.

image

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment is an intense form of drug treatment rehabilitation because it involves living inside the treatment center for the entirety of the program. While the individual is in the treatment center, they will receive therapy and counseling as well as other services, like medical supervision and medication-assisted detox. This type of treatment is most often recommended for individuals who have a severe addiction or who have been addicted for an extended amount of time.

image

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment does not involve living at the treatment center. Instead, the individual attends treatment and therapy sessions during the day or evening. This works best for individuals who have work, school or family obligations that make it difficult for them to enter an inpatient program because they can still work and return home in the evening to eat and sleep.

image

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment programs are similar to inpatient in that the individual lives in a residential setting while receiving their substance use disorder treatments. These treatment centers typically feel more like a home, and individuals in the program may have daily chores and responsibilities, which helps them build critical life skills.

Individualized Treatment Options
Individualized Treatment Options

Many treatment centers have gotten away from rigid programs that don’t offer much in the way of flexibility. This is because research has proven that individualized programs are more effective at treating substance use disorder. Benefits of individualized treatment include:

Popular Treatment Centers in Florida

Florida is home to many notable treatment centers, including:

image

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Naples – Offers residential, outpatient and sober living programs.

image

Caron Renaissance in Boca Raton – Focuses on holistic and evidence-based approaches.

image

Beachway Therapy Center in Boyton Beach – Focuses on individualized treatment approaches for residential, outpatient and aftercare programs.

image

Miracles Recovery in Port St. Lucie – Offers individual, group and CBT therapy along with holistic rehab options.