How to Choose an Opioid Detox Center in Florida
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Opioid addiction continues to be a significant problem in the United States, with thousands of people struggling to recover. Unfortunately, being addicted to opioids puts you at risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), opioids were responsible for 81,806 overdose deaths in 2022.[1]
If you are addicted to opioids, that means your brain and body rely on them to function properly. If you suddenly stop taking them, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. Because opioid withdrawal can be incredibly difficult to cope with, you should always seek help from a medical detox center.
Opioid detox programs in Florida offer a full spectrum of services to ensure you recover from withdrawal. For example, you will have 24/7 medical supervision, medications to manage your symptoms, and psychological support throughout your stay. That said, not every detox center is created equally.
When picking an opioid detox program, you want to make sure they are reputable. You should look for a facility that is accredited, offers safe prescribing methods, provides mental health support, accepts your insurance, and more.
In this article, you will learn:
- Why detox is an important first step in opioid addiction treatment
- How to pick a creditable opioid detox center
- Which qualities indicate that an opioid detox program is well-run and worth your time
Why is Opioid Detox Important?
Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription pain relief medications like oxycodone, morphine, and hydrocodone. There are illicit opioids as well, such as heroin. These substances decrease activity in your central nervous system (CNS) and affect the way your body experiences pain.
When you are addicted to opioids, your brain begins to work overtime to compensate for your central nervous system slowing down. If you stop using opioids, your brain will have a hard time adjusting to an overactive CNS. This is what causes withdrawal symptoms to occur.
Opioid withdrawal symptoms may include:[2]
- Agitation and anxiety
- Muscle aches and pains
- Teary eyes and runny nose
- Insomnia
- Excessive sweating
- Increased yawning
- Stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting
- Dilated pupils
- Goosebumps and shivering
- Cravings for opioids
While opioid withdrawal is not directly life-threatening, symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and sweating can lead to dehydration. Without medical treatment, you could experience fatal symptoms. For this reason, you should never attempt to detox from opioids at home.
How to Choose a Florida Opioid Detox Center
If you require detox services, it’s important to find an opioid detox program that is highly regarded. Detox is the first step in drug addiction treatment and it is important to attend a program that can fully attend to your needs.
Choosing an opioid detox center in Florida can be difficult, however, there are some tips and tricks to make the process easier. When picking an opioid detox center, look for the following qualities:
Accreditation and Licensing
When you are looking at specific opioid detox centers, the first thing you should do is look for accreditation. Reputable programs go through an accreditation process, which means they have been evaluated by an organization that ensures they are operating under the national standards of care.
Choosing an accredited or licensed opioid detox center will allow you to be certain that safety procedures are followed, staff members are qualified, evidence-based practices are used, and the program is safe for individuals experiencing opioid withdrawal.
Safe Prescribing Methods
Next, you’ll want to make sure they use safe prescribing methods. When you are recovering from opioid withdrawal, you will be given medications to manage your symptoms. This is known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
The opioid detox center you choose should be using assessments to determine the severity of your opioid use disorder, only dispensing one dose at a time, and adjusting your dose as your symptoms change. Safe prescribing methods ensure that you are not abusing your medication, experiencing significant side effects, and are improving throughout your stay in detox.
Mental Health Support
Many people who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction also experience co-occurring mental health conditions. For this reason, you should always choose an opioid detox center that offers psychological support.
Even if you do not have a mental health disorder, opioid withdrawal can cause psychological symptoms like depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It can be helpful to have a mental health professional there to support you.
Insurance or Payment Options
Another thing to consider is the cost of opioid detox. Because of all of the services offered, opioid detox can quickly become expensive. Thankfully, insurance plans cover addiction treatment programs like detox centers.
When choosing an opioid detox program in Florida, ensure that they accept your insurance or offer an alternative payment plan.
Confidential Care
Lastly, detox should be kept confidential. It is normal to want your privacy to be protected while you are undergoing withdrawal treatment. Thankfully, programs like Archstone Behavioral Health work hard to maintain your privacy during our detox and addiction treatment centers.
Get Connected to a Top-Rated Opioid Detox Program in Florida
If you or a loved one suffers from opioid addiction, it’s time to consider attending detox. While the detox process might seem daunting, the professionals at Archstone Behavioral Health will support you throughout the addiction recovery process.
Call us today for more information on why our opioid detox center is one of the best in Florida.
References:
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Drug Overdose Death Rates
- Medline Plus: Opiate and opioid withdrawal