Alcohol Addiction Intervention Treatment in Florida
Alcohol addiction continues to present itself as one of the larges issues nationwide, with Florida as no exception. Alcohol addiction treatment is essential to help alcoholics, and their families overcome alcoholism and its associated problems. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that there are 16 million American adults that have a disorder that leads them to abuse alcohol. Because alcohol is legal and sales aren’t tracked, it can be difficult to realize the impact of alcoholism in Florida.
Due to its legality, many people don’t realize that alcohol is a drug, exhibiting similar properties, side effects, and withdrawal symptoms to well-known drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines. Like many drugs, alcohol is highly addictive, causing a potential addiction after a few days of heavy use. Alcohol addiction intervention services and treatment options in Florida provide treatment for all severity of alcohol addiction.
What is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a drug classified as a depressant, meaning that it slows down vital functions. As for how alcohol affects the mind, it is best understood as a drug that reduces a person’s ability to think rationally and distorts his or her judgment. Although alcohol is classified as a depressant, the amount of alcohol consumed by a person determines the type of effect. Most people drink for the stimulant effect, ex. a beer or a glass of wine to loosen up. However, if a person drinks more than the body can handle, they experience alcohol’s depressant effect; they start to lose coordination and control. Fermented drinks, beer, and wine contain anywhere from 2% to 20% alcohol. Distilled drinks, or liquor, contain anywhere from 40% to 50% or more alcohol.
What are the Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse?
Within minutes of consuming alcohol, it is absorbed in the bloodstream by blood vessels in the stomach lining and small intestine. It then travels to the brain, where it quickly produces its effects. The short-term effects of alcohol depend on how much is consumed, how quickly it is consumed, the weight, sex, and body fat percentage of the individual, and whether or not they have eaten.
Short-term effects caused by alcohol can include: slurred speech, drowsiness, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, headaches, breathing difficulties, distorted vision, and hearing, impaired judgment, decreased perception and coordination, unconsciousness, anemia (loss of red blood cells), coma, and blackouts (memory lapses, where the drinker cannot remember events that occurred while under the influence).Binge drinking and continued alcohol use in large amounts are associated with many health problems.
These long-term effects can include the following: unintentional injuries (car crash, falls, burns, drowning), intentional injuries (firearm injuries, sexual assault), increased family problems (broken relationships), alcohol poisoning, heart-related diseases (high blood pressure, stroke), liver disease, nerve damage, sexual performance, permanent brain damage, Vitamin B1 deficiency, ulcers, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach walls), malnutrition, and cancer of the mouth and throat. Alcohol treatment and detox programs in Florida help alcoholics start down the road to recovering, treating, and managing these health issues.
How Does Alcohol Addiction Happen?
Many studies have been conducted on the cause of alcohol addiction. While there is no exact formula to depict a person’s drinking habits, data has shown that alcohol addiction is influenced by many factors. It is important to note that alcohol addiction does not discriminate and can impact anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, body type, or personal beliefs. Several of the most common causes of alcoholism include biological factors, environmental factors, social factors, and psychological factors.
Data has shown a link between alcohol addiction and biological factors, specifically genetics and physiology. Some people can limit the amount of alcohol they consume, while others feel a strong need to keep going. Scientists have also indicated that alcohol dependence may be associated with up to 51 genes in various chromosome regions; if those genes are passed down from generation to generation, family members may be much more prone to developing alcohol problems.
Studies have also explored the possibility of a connection between a person’s environment and their risk of developing alcohol addiction. People who live closer to alcohol establishments or those who live in areas that containpositive advertisements for the consumption of alcohol can have an increased likelihood of developing an addiction. Income is another environmental factor that can play a role in the amount of alcohol consumed. Contrary to popular beliefs, people who come fromaffluent areas are more likely to drink than those living below poverty.
Your culture, religion, family, and work can influence many of your behaviors, including drinking. Family, however, plays the biggest role in a person’s likelihood of developing an addiction. Children exposed to alcohol abuse at an earlier age are more at risk of falling into a dangerous drinking pattern. Beginning a new stage of life, college/new job, etc., can also make you more susceptible to addiction. Often, during these transitions, you are looking to make new friends and develop relationships, causing you to participate in activities that you normally may nottake part in, including consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.
Furthermore, different psychological factors can increase the chances of heavy drinking. Every person is unique in how they handle situations; however, how you cope with those feelings can impact certain behavioral traits. For example, people with high stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions can be more vulnerable to developing alcohol addiction. In these examples, alcohol is often used to suppress feelings and relieve symptoms. Ultimately, the more you turn to alcohol to ease hard feelings or stress, the more your body becomes tolerant to the drug and relies on its effects. Alcohol rehabilitation programs in Florida utilize traditional and non-traditional therapy and counseling approaches to manage all underlying issues connected to alcohol addiction.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment and Detox in Florida
Alcohol addiction treatment and detox centers in Florida utilize different methods and approaches to manage alcohol addictions from mild to extreme. Treatments can vary, but each method is meant to help you stop drinking altogether. Detox is the first step in the process, with the goal being to stop drinking and give your body time to get the alcohol out of your system. This process can take a few days to a week, and most people attend a medical detox center or hospital because of withdrawal symptoms. Common withdrawal symptoms can include shaking/tremors, seeing or feeling things that aren’t there (hallucinations), anxiety, insomnia, upset stomach,and seizures
Once detox is complete, the next step is to attend a residential or outpatient alcohol rehab. Residential rehab varies in duration, anywhere from 3-6 weeks or a much longer stay of 6-12 months. These types of rehab programs are the most beneficial because they remove the person from distractions and environments that could trigger an alcoholic relapse, which allows them to focus solely on their recovery and building coping skills to live life as a sober person.
Outpatient treatment offers different types of support. Often, some people will transition from inpatient to outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment can be intense, where a person attends treatment for up to 10 hours a day or less, to treatments once a week. Both types of rehab involve treating the situation and person individually, tailoring a plan that is best suited for their situation and needs.
Once detox and rehab are completed, it does not end there. Post-rehab support is also incredibly important and should see addicts seeking support through 12-step programs, peer support groups, or sober living homes.
Family Intervention for Alcohol Addiction in Florida
Family intervention in Florida is a carefully planned out meeting in which families and loved ones meet with someone who is abusing alcohol and explain the effects their addiction is having on themselves and their loved ones. Most people abusing alcohol have a hard time recognizing they have a problem or are unwilling to admit they need help, meaning an intervention is often necessary to get them the help they need. From this intervention, the hope is to direct the addict towards a program or support that they need to help them face their addiction and work through it to achieve sobriety.
An intervention can be a very emotional event, making the hiring of an interventionist essential. Hiring an interventionist empowers the family to work through the planning and preparing the intervention with an experienced and professional team. These interventions help the family set clear boundaries and consequences if the family member does not wish to commit to a rehab program. A carefully planned intervention has positive outcomes, while a poorly executed one can leave the addict feeling attacked and defensive. Professional interventionists help families face a sensitive topic, providing the tools and planning required to help those they love struggling with addiction.
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