The addiction epidemic has buried its roots all over the country. Opioids are the chief cause of overdose and addiction in the United States, but other issues like alcoholism, cocaine, and club drugs continue to be a problem. The epidemic has a higher concentration near large cities, but it has affected rural areas and suburbs as well. It also affects people of every class, rich and poor alike. The indiscriminate nature of opioid addiction has allowed it to spread far and wide, without concern for social or geographic borders.
Learn more about the substance abuse problem and how it can be treated in Parkland, Florida, and the surrounding area.
Parkland, Florida, is a part of Broward County and the larger Miami metropolitan area that stretches from south Miami-Dade up to Palm Beach County. With high populations and dozens of coastal cities, drugs are highly available, and addiction is a constant problem. Parkland, Florida, is a relatively small neighborhood city with high-income housing and low crime rates in the northern edge of Broward County. However, even here, the opioid epidemic is a significant concern.
Fentanyl is one of the chief reasons for the increase in opioid overdoses in the past few years. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is cheaper than heroin. It’s mixed into heroin without users knowing to give the impression of a higher quality drug. Between 2014 and 2016, 94 overdose deaths were linked to fentanyl in Broward County.
As the addiction epidemic gets worse, healthcare providers and county officials continue to look for ways to solve the problem. South Florida is also the home to dozens of addiction treatment centers. However, it’s important to know how addiction treatment works and what makes it effective.
Substance abuse treatment, or addiction treatment, is a process that is designed to treat a substance use disorder and any other directly or indirectly related issues. This can mean treating substance abuse and medical, psychological, and social issues that can be underlying causes of a substance use disorder.
Addiction is a complex disease that can have a variety of underlying causes. Typically, it’s impossible to pinpoint one definitive cause and may be a combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors. For that reason, addiction treatment is complex and tailored to your specific needs.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), there are four main levels of care in addiction treatment:
The level of care you receive when you first enter treatment depends on your specific needs. You will go through an intake and assessment process with clinicians and your therapist to help pinpoint your exact needs. Through the treatment process, your recovery plan will continue to be reassessed as new needs develop.
There are a variety of treatment options all over the country, but some approaches to addiction treatment are more successful than others. If you are looking for addiction treatment in or around Parkland, it’s important to consider the factors that make for quality treatment. Fortunately, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has compiled a list of principles of effective treatment. Many of these principles have become important industry standards. To help with your search, it’s important to understand the following principles and how they affect treatment outcomes.
ASAM. (n.d.). What is the ASAM Criteria? from https://www.asam.org/resources/the-asam-criteria/about
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, January). Principles of Effective Treatment. from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/principles-effective-treatment
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, January). How long does drug addiction treatment usually last? from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/how-long-does-drug-addiction-treatment
United Way of Broward. (2017, June). Drug Abuse Trends In Broward County, Florida. from http://www.drugfreebroward.org/