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Choosing to seek drug, opiate, or alcohol detox is often the first step on the road to recovery. Whether you are a substance abuser, an alcoholic, or a mixture of the two, treatment in the form of detox is usually necessary to put an end to your dependence on one or more substances of abuse. Of course, detox will need to be followed up with drug, opiate, or alcohol rehab for you to build a strong, long-lasting recovery. Still, many people find they can take the first step by seeking opiate and alcohol detox in Florida. 

The Sunshine State is home to many detox facilities, such as the Summer House Detox Center, and recovery is a possibility with the first step of putting an end to your dependence on a dangerous substance. But why choose Florida for opiate detox? Here are just a few reasons.

1. The Warm Weather Will Help You Through Withdrawal

Opiate withdrawal causes several uncomfortable side effects, such as those listed by the National Library of Medicine, including:

  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Muscle, bone, and joint pain
  • Insomnia
  • Tearing of the eyes (crying)
  • Yawning
  • Runny nose
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Goosebumps
  • Dilated pupils
  • Diarrhea
 

In many cases, withdrawal from opiates can feel similar to having a bad case of the flu. As a result, many people also experience chills and discomfort, similar to what the flu would normally cause. Being in a warm environment can help minimize the severity of these effects, by making it easier to cope with chills, runny nose, and body aches. Ask yourself: if you were suffering from a bad bout of the flu, would you rather be stuck in a snowy climate or somewhere with sunshine all year round?

2. Florida Is Working Hard to Fight Opiate Addiction

Florida has become one of the country’s largest hubs for opiate addiction treatment and detox. This is partly because the state is dealing with a serious opiate crisis of its own, as evidenced by these statistics:

  • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 47,600 of the 70,200 drug overdose deaths in Florida in 2017 were opiate-related.
  • Florida providers wrote roughly 60 opiate drug prescriptions for every 100 persons in Florida in 2017, which was higher than the national average at 58.7. However, this rate is steadily declining and has continued to decrease since 2010.
  • In 2014, 8 cases per 1,000 hospital births in Florida saw the presence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in babies born to opiate-addicted mothers.
 

Florida government officials understand the severity of this issue and are working at fighting the opiate epidemic in the state. There are now several laws that have been put in place to help combat these issues. For one, the Florida Medical Association states that prescriptions for opiates can only be written for a certain number of days at maximum. For another, $50 million of funding was allocated to mental health services, addiction treatment, and law enforcement.

As a state, Florida still struggles with opiate abuse, but the state’s government and residents are aware of the situation and are putting forth the effort to make a change. For this reason, you might consider seeking treatment here for your opiate addiction.

3. There Are Lots of Treatment Centers to Choose from in Florida

Unlike some states that have not been as affected by or do not have a strong understanding of the opiate crisis, there are many treatment facilities and programs to choose from in Florida. These include opiate detox centers, rehab centers, hybrids of the two, and aftercare programs, such as sober living homes and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. No matter where you are in your recovery, you will likely be able to find a treatment program that will suit you. Also, whether or not you have already undergone opiate detox, this is a safe, understanding area for you to do so in a way that feels comfortable for you.

4. You May Commune with Nature in Florida.

Florida has some of the greatest natural sights in the country, including its beautiful beaches, flat grasslands, lovely forests, and unspoiled swamplands. Everywhere in the Sunshine State, there are new sights to see and beautiful ways to connect with your natural environment. Also, as we are becoming better able to understand addiction, we now realize that connecting with nature is a wonderful way to begin and strengthen the healing process.

Spending time outdoors in beautiful, natural surroundings has long been considered a helpful practice, but we’re starting to understand that it is even more scientific than that. According to a 2016 study, being outside for just 30 minutes per week has been found to lower high blood pressure by 9% and depression by 7%. For one, it seems to reduce anxiety, which is a serious problem that occurs for many individuals around the time of opiate detox. What’s more, depression can become severe, even life-threatening, as a result of opiate detox that goes un-monitored.

If you can spend time outdoors regularly, as most Florida detox centers allow—and even encourage—their patients to do, you will likely have an easier time with the psychological effects of opiate withdrawal.

5. There’s Always Something to Do in Florida.

In addition to the beautiful outdoor scenery in the state, there’s also always an activity you can enjoy, usually outside. This is a result of the year-long warm weather and the strong community of outdoorsy individuals in the state. Swimming, surfing, hiking, horseback riding, camping, canoeing, kayaking, biking, rock climbing, sailing: there’s always something to do in Florida, and it almost always takes place outdoors. When you come here to work on putting your opiate abuse behind you, it will be much easier to do so with the myriad activities to distract you from cravings and other issues.

6. Florida Is One of the Country’s Greatest Get-Away Destinations.

There’s a reason many people come to Florida on a vacation: the state is one of the country’s great get-away destinations that help you to forget about your life back at home and concentrate on the here and now. This is something many opiate addicts absolutely must do to recover safely, and it can make the entire process easier.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, introspection and self-reflection have recently become important aspects of the science of treating addiction. This becomes much easier to do, however, when you are able to truly remove yourself from your current situation and see it from a distance. After all, it will be hard for you to reflect on your life and what aspects of it you need and don’t need when you are still mired in it.

Coming to Florida will give you a chance to not only rest from your day-to-day problems, but you’ll also have the opportunity to truly reflect on them, which will allow you to determine what changes you need to make to your life in order to avoid opiate abuse in the future.

7. Florida Has a Strong Community of Recovery.

There is a strong recovery community already in place in the Sunshine State. Choosing to seek opiate detox treatment in Florida can allow you the chance to become part of this community after your treatment has ended. If, for example, you decide you want to start fresh after your treatment, what better place to do so than in Florida, a state where whole communities, mutual-help groups, activities, radio stations, and other entities are devoted to recovering addicts?

Choose Florida for Your Opiate Detox

If you are looking for a safe, effective way to recover from your opiate dependence and addiction treatment in Fort Lauderdale, as well as a community that understands addiction, offers plenty to do and see, and has year-round warm weather, consider Florida. Our detox facility is located in 13550 Memorial Highway Miami, FL 33161 and offers 24-hour care for people who need to detox from opiates, heroin, alcohol, and more. Simply call 800-719-1090 today to speak with a qualified addiction specialist to learn more.

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