The unfortunate statistic is that almost 21 million Americans have issues with addiction. An even more depressing statistic is only 10% receive treatment which has contributed to a tripling of overdose deaths since 1990.
So if you have an issue with addiction, or you have a loved one that has an addiction issue, there are options. Read on to learn about residential treatment in Florida. This type of intensive treatment has continued to show meaningful results and see if it is right for you.
Factors that Influence Addiction
It is often helpful to understand the factors that contribute to addiction in order to be able to successfully treat the problem. Below is a list of common causes of addiction. Keep in mind this list is not comprehensive and there are other contributors to addiction.
First, it is not a failure on the part of the addicted individual nor is it a lacking of willpower on their part that has prevented them from breaking the cycle of addiction. Research has indicated that repeated patterns of behavior are hard to break. So willpower/desire alone doesn’t change the destructive addictive behavior. Additional support is needed if there is to be lasting recovery.
Often times, addiction is triggered by, environmental situations. These can be economic or personal, and trigger a desire to seek an escape. For example, if you experience a bad break-up, joining your girlfriends in a bottle of wine OR a night out with the bros for beers all seem to alleviate the pain. But when it continues or prevents you from dealing with the issues, it becomes a problem.
Some other factors influence addiction, including basic genetics. If you have a parent that struggled with addiction, you are twice as likely to struggle with it yourself. This does not mean that you will suffer from addiction but that you are at higher risk.
Mental health issues across the nation are also increasing rapidly. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences a mental health issue each year. Often times, these conditions are not identified or treated, and the individual self-medicates with drugs or alcohol to compensate.
Traumatic events can also be a trigger for the use of drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. For example, 2 out of every 10 military members with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also abuse substances.
Finally, you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time. Meaning, peer pressure can also influence your behavior. If you spend time with people who regularly drink that is going to encourage you to do the same, whether or not you are aware of it.
None of these are excuses for addictive behavior. However, some of the reasons why residential treatment can be so effective.
Top 5 Reasons to Consider Residential Treatment in Florida
Regardless of the palm trees and warm environment, there are other benefits to treatment options in Florida. Sunlight increases mood and can have a positive impact on depression. In addition, spending time near the ocean increases a sense of calm. There are also many benefits to residential treatment. Below are the top reasons to seek residential treatment in Florida.
1. Medical Detox
The first step to any drug or alcohol treatment program is medical detox. The individual must, first, rid themselves of the drug or alcohol. This process can be mentally challenging for the individual. There are also health risks, especially if the individual has been addicted for a long period of time.
In a residential treatment program, the individual is supported both medically and psychologically through the detox process. This provides a safe environment for them to rid themselves of their chemical dependency and begin the process of recovery.
2. Change the Environment, Change the Person
Have you ever traveled and got out of your morning routine? Changes in the scenery, allow for an easier change to behaviors that have become ingrained as part of a pattern of life.
In residential treatment, the entire environment is changed, with the focus on supporting recovery. Individuals can then find space to learn new behaviors and create new, healthier patterns. This increases their ability to successfully break their addiction.
If one factor associated with the addiction is related to an environmental situation, removing someone from that situation creates space to address the loss or problem with support. Once the environment is changed the individuals can learn better, healthier coping mechanisms. This is one of the first steps necessary to improve their lives once they leave the facility.
3. A Team-Based Medical Model
Individuals who are affected by addiction are not all the same. The available evidence has shown that using different treatment options, tailored to the individual, is beneficial. The challenge, as individual heads into treatment, all of their needs may not be known at the start of treatment.
A residential treatment facility can address all of the needs of the individual, in one place. As issues arise, they can be dealt with immediately without having to spend time finding the right support for the individual. All the support that is needed exists under the same roof.
In a residential facility, a comprehensive medical team works with the individual through the detox process. They then follow the individual and are available to any other medical issues that arise as the individual works through their addiction.
A comprehensive mental health team provides support in both individual and group settings. For example, if one factor of the addiction is unresolved trauma, that can be addressed, alongside the addiction issues, which aids in recovery.
Often times addiction comes with secondary issues, called dual-diagnosis. When there are multiple factors that contribute to the addiction, the medical and mental health team can work together to find the right solution for the patient. In an outpatient setting, this cross-disciplinary collaboration is often difficult to facilitate.
A comprehensive medical team that has a developed relationship of working together facilitates recovery.
4. Structure and Consistency
The goal of treating addiction is to change old behaviors, replacing them with new ones. Through this process, the individual grows as a person. This type of change is difficult. The formal structure that is provided by a residential facility is vital at the beginning of recovery.
In a residential facility, each individual is evaluated at the entrance to the program. Then a specific plan is developed that addresses their unique situation. Their environment is then structured to support those changes.
In out-patient situations, barriers to making those positive changes may still exist making it hard to solidify the new behaviors. As the individual progresses, the responsibility of the structure then returns to them as they gain the skills to overcome the barriers on their own.
For all in a residential treatment facility, the next step requires a structured transition from the residential treatment facility back to their home environment. This period can sometimes cause a relapse. However, if well managed, issues can be addressed before they become overwhelming and the addicted individual returns to drugs to avoid the problem. The better the patient understands how to create their own structure, the more effective their recovery. In a residential facility, the structure is modeled for them, giving them a clear picture of life without substance use.
5. Wellness Focus
Once an individual breaks free of their addiction they find they have more time. It is important to help them find activities to fill that time that supports their recovery.
This could include painting, exercise, or meditation. Residential facilities offer a wide variety of activities for an individual to explore.
A residential facility also offers holistic support to the transition from addiction to recovery. For example, an individual with addiction may feel separated from their body. Massage can be very helpful in these cases to return the individual’s connection to their own body.
Other Holistic Therapies to Support Recovery
Amino acid therapy is an additional holistic therapy offered by residential treatment programs. With long term addiction, the function of the brain has been altered. This makes breaking the addiction cycle difficult. One solution to “repair” the brain is amino acid therapy. This therapy must take place regularly over the course of many days or weeks. Typically, an IV is inserted that provides a steady stream of amino acids. These amino acids are then used by the brain to heal its self. Because amino acids are the keys to neurotransmission, the mood slowly begins to improve and sometimes depression can be reversed.
Acupuncture can be another holistic methodology to improve the process of recovery. Acupuncture is based on the Chinese Medicine concept of each individual having a life force, or Qi. When that life force is out of balance, the body physically suffers. Acupuncture uses needles, inserted along meridians in the body, to improve that flow of energy. Western Medicine has linked the meridians in Chinese Medicine to neuropathways in the body. So much like years of substance abuse has re-wired the brain, it may have also rewired the nervous system. Support such as Acupuncture has been shown to be a successful adjunct therapy for addiction treatment.
While not all of these holistic therapies may be appropriate for each patient, the ability to choose the right therapy within the same residential facility improves outcomes.
6. Stress Management
Stress can be a major contributor to addiction. Stress also plays a major role in relapses. We live in fast-paced, high stress, time where many are struggling with stress management. For the addict, it is vital that they learn to effectively manage their stress.
In a structured residential facility, individuals are encouraged to learn to identify stressors and given the tools to learn to manage stress effectively. Individuals can learn to manage their stress, but the process takes time. For example, meditation has been shown to be beneficial in decreasing stress and increasing mood.
Research has shown that regular meditation practices improve our body’s physical response to stress. Some studies have shown that just 20 minutes of meditation can reduce stress and anxiety levels. Residential facilities allow for time and space to learn these important skills
7. Peer Support
When an individual enters treatment, they may feel as if they have failed. They may also feel hopeless and alone. Truly, they must be the only individual that has struggled with this before, or so they think.
In a residential treatment facility, they are surrounded by individuals who are struggling with the same issues. Group therapy can be a powerful tool to re-instill a sense of hope in the individual.
The residential treatment facility creates a peer group that is not focused on the drug of choice but on creating healthier behaviors. Just as peers can cause the continuance of unhealthy behavior choices, individuals making positive changes can also influence the establishment of positive behavior.
Finally, individuals in a residential treatment facility see their peers from the start – end. They are in a place to see how far they have come in their own treatment and where they are able to go all at the same time.
The Keys to Success in Addiction Treatment
No two addicts are alike, nor should any two treatment options. Residential treatment programs are flexible and can tailor treatments to the unique needs of the individual. In addition, the structured environment, along with a complete and holistic treatment team, promotes lasting success.
Do You or a Loved One Need Help with their Addiction Problem?
Addiction can affect everyone and when you ready to seek help, contact us here. Our team is ready to help you and your loved one take the first step towards lasting sobriety. You can call us by dialing (877) 978-3125. Our residential treatment facility in Florida offers state of the art support in beautiful natural surroundings. Even if you have not been successful in treatment programs in the past, we can help you take the first step to a new life.
References
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/related/substance_abuse_vet.asp