Choosing Florida Treatment

Choosing Florida Treatment

By Jenny Hunt, Palm Partners Recovery Center

February 13, 2012

Every year, thousands of drug addicts and alcoholics head to Florida treatment centers to get help with their addiction. Florida has hundreds of drug treatment centers, and a thriving recovery center. For many, choosing Florida treatment is the first step towards a happy, drug-free life.

Many Florida treatment centers employ the “Florida model.” This is a phasing process with different levels of treatment. The first step to Florida treatment is often a stay in a detox facility. The purpose of safe medical detox is to eliminate the physical addiction to drugs and/or alcohol in a safe, comfortable environment. The second step to Florida treatment is usually a stay in a residential treatment facility. Here, the addict or alcoholic will have access to group and individual therapy which will help them address the cause of their drug and alcohol abuse. After stay in a residential treatment center, the Florida treatment model includes a stay in a sober house. These sober houses provide a structured environment that is a good bridge between residential treatment and the real world.

Detoxing from drugs and alcohol can be very painful and sometimes deadly. Often the biggest barrier to treatment is fear of this process. Florida treatment usually begins with a safe, medical detox. The detox center provides medication to make the withdrawal process more comfortable. Meanwhile, the drug addict or alcoholic is monitored very closely during this process by medical professionals to ensure that the process is safe. Some detox centers are equipped with other therapies that can make the process easier. These include massage, acupuncture, and healthy food.

After the detox process is complete, the addict or alcoholic is ready for the second phase of Florida treatment: the residential treatment center. After the detox process is complete, the drug addict or alcoholic is ready to address the core issues behind their drug and alcohol abuse. In this stage of Florida treatment, monitoring is not as rigid as in the detox center, as the immediate health concerns are not as extreme. A person attending a Florida treatment center will live either on site or at a separate off site residence, and attend therapy sessions during the day. These therapy sessions will focus on the cause of the drug or alcohol abuse and teach the addict or alcoholic how to live a drug and alcohol free life. Florida treatment will also address the consequences of drug or alcohol abuse, whether these be legal, physical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual. Florida treatment centers will often try to introduce the drug addict or alcoholic to 12-step meetings.

After attending a residential treatment center, Florida treatment usually includes a stay in a sober house. This is a residence where the addict or alcoholic lives among other people in recovery and agrees to abide by certain rules. Usually, the sober house will require residents to abide by a curfew, get a job, participate in an active recovery process, and submit to regular drug testing.

If you or someone you know needs Florida treatment for drug addiction or alcoholism call us at (877) 711-HOPE (4673) or visit us online at www.palmpartners.com.