Florida

The state of Florida has several very serious drug problems, which if left unabated will continue to lead to disastrous social and health consequences for those involved in substance abuse and the state overall. Substance abuse in the state of Florida not only impacts the residents who are involved in substance abuse, and there are so many other individuals that are negatively impacted and casualties of this problem. For example, substance abusing parents are not only poor role models for their children and other youth in their presence, but their substance abuse often leads to broken homes in the state. Children of substance abusing parents wind up in foster care or worse. Youth themselves who begin abusing substances at a very early age in the state are setting themselves up for failure in the future, because many of these youth will do poorly academically and struggle later in life because of it. This is why it is so important to understand the scope of the problem in Florida and what can be done about it.

When looking at information regarding treatment admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the state of Florida, marijuana is the most common drug of abuse among admissions, followed by other opiates which constitutes any number of opioid prescription drugs which are often diverted and abused, and cocaine. About 437,000 residents in the state report illicit drug dependence or abuse within the past year. About 30% of Florida high school aged youth report use of marijuana at least once in their lifetime, and 15% report use in the past month.

Prescription drug abuse spans every age group, and it is not just a problem among adults in the state of Florida. It is an epidemic nationwide, and Florida is no exception. In 2010, 5,647 people died in the state with prescription drugs in their system at the time of their death. Non-medical use, meaning the abuse of these drugs either with or without a prescription, is a very common cause of prescription drug related deaths in Florida. Prescription opioids such as OxyContin and Percocet are the most common culprits. Many such deaths in Florida are due to a deadly mixture of different types of prescription drugs, such as opioids mixed with depressants and muscle relaxants.

Because the consequences of any type of substance abuse in Florida can be so serious, it is crucial that residents in the state are aware of the risks and dangers involved. Most importantly, it is important that individuals involved in substance abuse and their family and loved ones know where to turn to for help. There is no shame in seeking help, and it takes courage to admit there is a problem and doing whatever it takes to resolve it. Not just for oneself, but also for the people who care and are concerned about the problem and your welfare. Private inpatient and residential drug rehab programs in Florida are located in just about every county and are the most effective and proven treatment options available. These programs accept many types of health insurance and can help you or someone you love get started in treatment today.