Opiate Addiction Treatment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The United States is currently in the grips of a startling epidemic, the likes of which we’ve never before had to face. Painkiller abuse and overdose statistics have skyrocketed, in recent years, thanks to an unprecedented number of prescriptions being issued and a general lack of public awareness and education pertaining to the dangers of opiate addiction.
Unlike other drugs, addiction to opiate painkillers like Vicodin and Oxycontin spans demographics, cultures, and neighborhoods, indiscriminately devastating the inner city as well as the suburbs and rural America with unprecedented verve.
The main problem with opiates is the rate at which they spark addiction. Due to the way painkillers interact with our body and brain chemistry, symptoms of physical dependence and withdrawal upon cessation can emerge in under a week following an individual’s first time using them.
Signs and Symptoms of Opiate Dependence
Abuse of opiate painkillers and the withdrawals that come with dependence produce a host of negative side effects that can be obvious if you know what to look for. Since addiction and dependence often begin with a prescription, individuals may not realize that they have a problem until they attempt to stop taking the drugs in question and experience highly unpleasant reactions such as:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Anxiety, depression, and unpredictable mood swings
- Aching in muscles, joints, and internal organs
- Restless legs and the inability to relax
- Diarrhea and vomiting
Once addicted, people will tend to become fixated on acquiring more drugs to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Serious addicts will lie, steal, and do anything necessary to get their next fix; that’s why many opiate addicts turn to heroin, which is less expensive and more readily available through illicit means than prescription pills.
Long-term opiate abuse causes a steep increase of tolerance, which means that addicts must consume greater and greater amounts of the drug in question in order to feel the desired physical and mental effects. Abusing high doses of opiates for an extended period of time can cause a host of undesirable health problems, including kidney and liver damage, constipation, and hepatitis, as well as more intense physical withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.
Detox and Recovery in Fort Lauderdale
Florida Coast Recovery understands the harrowing realities of painkiller addiction and withdrawal and has designed their detox program to help give patients the leg up they need to get clean and stay clean. The detox process for opiate addiction typically lasts about a week but varies case by case; that’s why our program caters to the needs of the individual, treating each patient with the personalized care they need and deserve.
Opiate abuse, addiction, and overdose are on the rise everywhere and are gaining attention as an epidemic in the media as well as the government. Don’t become another statistic; if you or someone you love in Fort Lauderdale needs an opiate detox program designed by professionals with a proven track record of success, look no further than Florida Coast Recovery. Call us today at 954-990-7101 to get started on the road to recovery today.