Substance Abuse Stats in Orlando, FL
Orlando is a city in Florida with a population of about 250,000 people, although the Orlando metro area is home to 2.5 million. Because Orlando is such an urban area, its residents are exposed to much of Florida’s substance abuse issues.
Some shocking abuse stats for Florida are:
- The rate of drug overdoses in Florida has risen significantly since 2014, from around 13 deaths per 100,000 people to more than 25.
- In a recent survey, more than 10% of Floridians reported using illicit drugs.
- The same survey found that nearly 7 percent of the state’s population needed but did not receive substance abuse treatment in 2017.
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
If you are seeking substance abuse treatment in Orlando, your first step will be to choose an outpatient or inpatient treatment. This is one of the most important decisions you will make.
- Inpatient rehab is a great choice for people who need a lot of care and support during their recovery. Most patients can benefit from rehab. Attending rehab during the early stages of treatment can increase your odds of success.
- Outpatient care is an acceptable choice for people who need to continue to go to work or school, or take care of children while receiving treatment. Only people who can stay sober with less support can benefit from outpatient care.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
Treatment at a rehab center should last at least 90 days, if you want the best chance at avoiding relapse.
Relapse is quite a common part of recovery, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim to avoid it. By choosing a longer rehab program, you set yourself up for success in the future.
Opioid use disorders require longer treatment than many others. Many people with OUDs stay in rehab for a year or more. Talking to an addiction specialist at your rehab center can help you figure out what length of stay is best for you.
What to Expect at Rehab
It can be hard to know exactly how your rehab will look. Every patient comes into treatment with their own unique set of needs and limitations.
Your plan might include:
- Behavioral therapy: Therapy can help you to learn new ways to cope with your disorder and give you ideas on how to overcome your addiction.
- Activities: Activities like art, yoga, sculpting, meditation, and dance are all healthy forms of relaxation and expression. This boost of confidence and balance can be a huge help.
- Group therapy: Discussing your disorder with peers can be healing and powerful.
- Medication: Medications can help with cravings for some drugs.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
If you are actively addicted to any drug, you have to go to detox. Physical addiction needs to be treated by detox.
Detox centers can keep you safe and comfortable as you go through withdrawal. They achieve this through medical monitoring and intervention when needed.
If you try to skip detox and go straight to a treatment center, you will be assessed and placed in detox if you need it. You can’t skip detox because withdrawal can be dangerous. Even if you don’t think you need detox, withdrawal symptoms might start later on that require more support.
How Long is Detox?
Your detox process will be unique to you. The length of this process can be affected by:
- Your drug use
- Your metabolism
- Your health
When people use large amounts of substances for a long time, they tend to build up in the body. This can make detox more difficult and lengthy. Furthermore, people with slow metabolisms and people that are unhealthy may have more difficulty with detox.
You can expect detox to last between a few days and a few weeks, depending on the factors listed above and what substance(s) were used.
Sources
- Florida Adolescent Substance Abuse Facts. (2019, May 1). Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescents-and-substance-abuse/florida/index.html
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, May 22). Florida Opioid Summary. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/florida-opioid-summary
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (n.d.). Florida. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHsaeSpecificStates2017B/NSDUHsaeFlorida2017.pdf