Synthetic Drug Addiction Intervention Treatment in Florida

Synthetic drugs are very potent and addictive, causing countless drug addictions each year. Synthetic drug addiction intervention and treatment programs in Florida are excellent options to manage all types of synthetic drug addiction. These drugs have a high likelihood of overdose due to their unregulated manufacturing and beingcreated using unknown ingredients. Although anyone can develop an addiction to synthetic drugs, unfortunately, the primary demographic abusing these substances is the teenage group. The mainage group that abuses synthetic drugs is around 12-17, the time that many people begin experimenting with drugs. Synthetic drugs may be thought of as being safer thanstreet drugs or prescription drugs, but the opposite is true.

What are Synthetic Drugs?

Synthetic drugs are man-made drugsproduced in laboratories and are often referred to as club drugs, party drugs, or designer drugs. They are designed to mimic the effects of other addictive drugs and are thought to produce a safer high. These drugs are often soldand labeled as not for human consumption to avoid any regulation by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Many of these substances are sold under the pretense of harmless products such as plant food, herbal incense, potpourri, and jewelry cleaner. They are disguised this way to be smuggled across the country.

Synthetic drugs typically have different effects on the brain and behavior than the drugs that they mimic. It is also nearly impossible to know the ingredients they contain and the strength of the drug due to their creation in illegal labs. To date, there are more than 200 identified synthetic drug compounds.

Although many drug compounds have been identified, they can generally be classified into the following categories:

Fentanyl: a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine.
Synthetic marijuana: There are approximately 90 different synthetic drug compounds.
Synthetic LSD: causes hallucinations and paranoia.
Synthetic stimulants: These stimulants mimic the effects of ecstasy or MDMA.
Synthetic PCP: These stimulants mimic the effects of PCP (phencyclidine) and cause delusions, psychoses, and a detached effect.

What are the Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Synthetic Drug Use?

Although synthetic drugs are thought to be a safer alternative to the drugs they were designed to mimic, they are not. The substances and ingredients used in the creation of these drugs are not meant for human consumption. When people ingest them, they could experience some dangerous and unpredictable side effects.

Short-term side effects include but are not limited to hallucinations and delusions, confusion, disorientation, psychosis, suicidal thoughts or suicide, extreme agitation and anxiety, and panic attacks. Some of the other effects are depression, insomnia, violent behavior, unresponsiveness, loss of consciousness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy sweating, high fever, kidney malfunction, heart attack, and bleeding in the brain.

Long-term side effects include but are not limited to kidney damage and failure, liver damage, seizures, brain swelling, and brain death, tremors, extreme tiredness, insomnia, forgetfulness and confusion, paralysis, persistent and severe anxiety, and depression, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue and death.Social problems may also arise due to synthetic drug addiction. People abusing these drugs will experience unemployment, financial problems, legal problems, and violence in the home.

What are Common Street Names for Synthetic Drugs?

Street names are different names or slang terms used to describe drugs to keep the drug use and sale more discreet. Drug users and drug dealers alike use these terms, and they may vary from place to place. Some common street names for synthetic drugs are K2, Blizzard, Smiles, N-bomb, Spice, Fake weed, Black Mamba, Bath salts, and Molly.

Synthetic Drug Addiction Treatment and Detox in Florida

Synthetic drug addiction treatment and detox in Florida need to be highly individualized and address the person’s physical, mental and emotional needs. A detox is the first step in recovery, andwithdrawal symptoms are likely to appear due to the dependency. Withdrawal symptoms from synthetic drug addiction can quickly present themselves after the last dose was taken and can vary from substance to substance.Common withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, fatigue, paranoia, headache, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, tremors, and cravings for the substance. Since synthetic drugs are unpredictable, the detox process can also be the same. Medicallysupervised drug detox in Florida ensures the person can detox safely and as comfortably as possible.

Once detox is complete, entering a residential or outpatient drug rehab program in Floridaincreases the chances of long-lasting sobriety. Inpatient drug rehab programs are when the person resides at a facility. These programs can be the most beneficial as they provide ample time to understand and resolve underlying issues. They are a safe place away from distractions, provide a decreased risk of relapse, and allow the person to develop peer support. Residential drug rehab programs in Florida combine therapies, 12-step programs, and a treatment plan that is tailored to each individual for the best chance of success.

Outpatient drug rehab programs in Floridaare often the step down from inpatient programs. Still, they can also be beneficial for those who cannotmove into an inpatient facility for whatever reason. In these types of programs, individuals meet several times a week at a safe location. The meetings allow recovering addicts to discuss any issues they have, gain strategies and work through their individualized care plan.

Once an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab program is complete, some may find it necessary or prefer to move into a sober living program. Recovery support allows them to continue their recovery while living in a substance-free environment, reducing the likelihood of relapse. It is also beneficial to seek the proper support and encouragement needed to continue their sobriety journey. This can look like a peer group that meets once or twice a week or continued therapy.

Family Intervention for Synthetic Drug Addiction in Florida

Recognizing a drug addiction problem can be difficult for those struggling with addiction. If you are concerned that a family member or loved one is struggling with synthetic drug addiction, here are a few signs to watch for:

Being unable to control synthetic drug usage habits
Being extremely secretive about activities and whereabouts
Neglecting responsibilities at work, school, or home
Needing more of the synthetic drug to achieve the same effect
Continuing to use synthetic drugs despite the harm caused
Experiencing consistent riffs in relationships at work, school, or home.

If any of these signs are present and you are concerned about a family member or loved one, executing a family intervention is most likely the best route to take. Furthermore, hiring an interventionist can be even more helpful in ensuring the intervention is done in a positive, successful way.

An intervention specialist comes together to work with family and friends to create a strategy to execute a successful intervention. The professional ensures that the intervention is done in a non-confrontational manner while encouraging dialogue between concerned parties and the person struggling with the addiction. No one plan works for every intervention. Hiring a professional enables the family to navigate the confusing days leading up to the intervention.

During the initial day with the interventionist, the family becomesmore educated on the options going forward. In addition, the family becomes more empathetic to the addict’s situation and communicates the impact that the drug addiction has had on loved ones. A properly executed intervention seeks to enable the addict to see the impact of their drug addiction and seek help.A poorly executed family intervention can have the opposite effect, causing the addict to reject help and become extremely defensive.

Sources – www.justthinktwice.gov/article/facts-about-synthetic-drugs