Addiction in Florida

The Opiate Epidemic in Florida

The Patterns and Trends of Substance Use in Florida 2019 report indicates that deaths due to opioid overdose have been recognized as the main cause of the life expectancy decline in the United States since 2016. Statistics in Florida suggest that there is an increase in opioid related deaths in our state, which can be attributed mainly to Heroin and Fentanyl.

Due to the rising numbers of overdoses in 2017 Florida enacted stiffer penalties for drug dealers, allowing them to be charged with murder if their customers overdose and die using fentanyl, a cheap, deadly painkiller that is often mixed in with other substances such as heroin and cocaine.

The opiate epidemic is a real problem in Florida. Many families just like yours are struggling. Watching drugs take over your loved one’s life is heart breaking.

Cocaine Use Increasing in Florida

The Florida Medical Examiners Commission Report indicates that the number of deaths with detected cocaine use, has been increasing. Because of it’s geographical location, Florida is an entry point for much of nation’s supply of cocaine. The Coast Guard says that for the past three years they have broken records for drug seizures, stopping more than 1.3 million pounds of cocaine from reaching Florida’s shores. It’s important that the community knows about these issues and where to receive drug treatment in Florida if needed.

Methamphetamine Use In Florida On The Rise

The National Emerging Threats Initiative, part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program is warning the nation of the increase in methamphetamine (meth) use. Data indicates that seizures of methamphetamines are up, which shows us that more and more people are using this dangerous and highly addictive substance. Like other illegal substances methamphetamines can be obtained from drug dealers, but meth can also be produced using regular household chemicals, and “cooked” relatively easily.

Meth can be smoked, snorted, injected, or swallowed orally. Oftentimes people with drug and alcohol problems will use several different substances, raising the risk that something bad could happen to them. Meth in particular is extremely addicting and very difficult to break away from.

Drug and alcohol counselors in Florida can help your loved one, but for many families it is difficult to convince their loved one to get the drug and alcohol treatment that they need.

Alcohol Problems in Florida

Although drunk driving deaths fell in the state of Florida last year, 814 people still died as a result of an impaired driver. Studies also show that young adults are drinking less than in previous generations but that for older adults binge drinking has actually increased. This is a sobering statistic for Florida, who has a large retirement population, and also highlights the importance of drug and alcohol treatment programs in Florida.

When a loved one has a problem with alcohol it can be very difficult to treat, as alcohol is a legal substance, and very easy to obtain. Oftentimes a person with an alcohol problem might not even realize that they need help, they might not see the effects it is having on their loved ones.

What You Can Do If You Think Your Loved One Has A Drug Or Alcohol Problem

You know your loved one better than anyone else. You know if something isn’t right, but you might not suspect drug use until their addiction is really serious. People with drug and alcohol use issues will minimize their problems and try to cover up the truth about how bad their addiction is. Educating yourself on substance use issues is important, so that you can really understand what you are up against. Having information can help both you and your loved one. Knowing who to call if your loved one is willing to get counseling for their drug and alcohol problems can help your loved one take some of the first steps towards sobriety.

Unfortunately many families find that their loved one is not willing to go to drug and alcohol treatment. But even if your loved one isn’t cooperative in getting help for themselves, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have options.

Reaching out to a drug and alcohol counselor that specializes in addiction issues can help you deal with the stress and worry that you are going through as well as help you decide on a plan of what to do next. Talking to a counselor yourself can help give you the support you need. Many families in Florida also find support at Al-Anon Meetings or Nar-Anon Meetings. Which ever option you choose it is important to know that you are not alone.

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Why Won’t My Loved One Just Quit Using Drugs and Alcohol?

This is a question you probably asked yourself a million times. If they just stopped using drugs and alcohol everything would be better, their lives would be better, you would worry less, and both of you would have less stress. Unfortunately when a person is caught up in addiction, it’s hard to get out. Just go to an al anon meeting in Pinellas County, or ask someone at a nar-anon meeting in Hillsborough County. This is a hard disease to get out of, a hard disease to survive. It’s easy for us on the outside to look through the window and know that if our loved one, just stopped using drugs, just got a job, just started thinking clearly things would get better. And your right, but it is a lot harder for them to do this then we realize.

There are several reasons for this. Number one, the environment. Are they in an environment that supports drug and alcohol use? Are their friends using drugs, drinking, partying like its 1999 every day? Do they have drug dealers coming around them all the time? Like any sales person, drug dealers, can be very personable, to the point that your loved one might actually think their drug dealer is really a good friend. The environment that your loved one is in can be a huge factor in how easy it is for them to get sober.

What about your loved one’s access to money? If they are still working then they will still have a pay check coming in which would make it really easy to buy drugs or alcohol. Maybe they are not working but have a friend or family member giving them cash regularly. Do they have a trust fund or money from a settlement coming in? Do they have property, or a car that they can or have sold? Maybe they are asking you if they can “borrow” money from you, but then they don’t pay you back.

When all these legal ways of obtaining money are run dry the person with the drug or alcohol problem might turn to stealing. Before they started stealing, you might have had some ideas that they were using drugs or alcohol, but once you see your missing jewelry, or their face in the local mugshots, you know their drug or alcohol problem is real. You know that they need a drug and alcohol treatment program quickly because you know that your loved one might do anything to get more drugs and alcohol and it is scary. At this point many families get rightfully angry, sad, and worried, especially if their loved one stole from them. This is really sad but it happens, and is why I recommend my clients have a safe or lock box to secure their valuables and prescription medications. Talking to others who understand by going to things like al anon meetings in Tampa, can help you see that you aren’t the only family member struggling with this same issue.

Another thing I want you to consider are mental health issues. If a person has depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or trauma issues, coupled with a substance use issue it just makes it so much harder for them to get the help that they need to stay sober. If your loved one needs medications but isn’t taking them or don’t even have basic coping skills, it will be very hard for them to stay sober. Drug and alcohol counseling programs in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties in Florida are great and can work on helping your loved one build up their coping skills while also addressing some of their mental health issues, but they still might not have everything your loved one needs. Even the best programs are limited and might not be the right fit for everyone. So finding the right drug or alcohol counseling program is really important.

Physical dependency, is another reason why it’s so hard for your loved one to just quit drugs and alcohol cold turkey. Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties are being hit hard by the opiate crisis. When I worked at an opiate medication management treatment center, I saw first hard why it’s so hard to fight the opiate crisis in Florida. When a person is physically dependent on a substance they feel like they have to keep using it just so they don't get sick. This is kind of like when you drink a lot of coffee or soda with caffeine, then suddenly stop, you most likely will get a headache. But instead of the headache, imagine that you literally feel that you might die. For certain substances, if your loved one is physically dependent on them, stopping their use could actually kill them. That is why it is so important that if your loved one has a substance use issue they receive medical care and drug and alcohol treatment from a provider that understands addiction issues.

These are only some of the many reasons your loved one might struggle with quitting their drug and alcohol use. Even if they do go to a drug and alcohol counseling program, relapse can happen as substance use issues are so difficult to treat. For families and loved ones, it can be really hard to watch addiction take over your loved one’s life. From finding drug and alcohol counseling in Hillsborough County, to questions about al anon in Tampa, if you need help please reach out.

Narcan in Hillsborough County: What You Need to Know

The Tampa Bay Times recently reported that all Hillsborough patrol deputies will begin carrying an opioid overdose antidote, Narcan. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is also receiving 3,800 Narcan doses as well. I want to emphasize that number 3,800, just for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. On one hand this is really great news that Hillsborough County is going to have better access to Narcan, but on the other hand it’s very sad that opiate overdoses are so common.

In all my years of working with clients with addiction issues I will tell you that people who have a problem with drugs or alcohol are highly skilled at hiding it from their loved ones, hiding it from you. They love you, and their family so much, and for many people with addiction issues they are too ashamed of themselves to let you know the whole truth. And that is why addiction is such a terrible disease, it hides, and strengthens in the shadows. You might have suspicions that something is not right with your loved one, you might even think that they are on drugs. But I am going to tell you, most likely you have no idea how bad it is. Your loved one is going to deny, minimize, and lie to you to keep you from finding out the whole truth. This is just how addiction is.

I have never seen someone fully admit the extent of their substance use issues to their family and that is really scary because you don’t know what you are fighting. It’s like going into a boxing match and not being able to see your competitor, you are going to get knocked out. And that is why you need professional help to deal with this problem. Addiction experts already know what fight you and your loved one are facing. If you go to an Al-Anon, or Nar-Anon meeting in Hillsborough County you might hear some of the horror stories of what could happen. But the real stories, the ones you don’t want to know, but really need to hear, you’re only going to get those from the first responders.

First responders in Hillsborough County already know the fight you are facing. They have already seen what addiction looks like and that is why they have started carrying Narcan, and they are carrying a lot. That should tell you something. They know that when there is an opiate overdose, seconds matter between life and death, and they want to be prepared

What Can You Do?

Educate yourself. It is important that everyone be aware of the signs of a potential drug overdose. If the person isn’t responding, has shallow breathing, their skin might feel cold or clammy, maybe their pupils don’t look right. There might be drug paraphernalia around them, or their might not be. The person might look like they are just sleeping, but in an unusual place, or unusual position. I would rather you wake someone up and have them lose sleep, then you lose them to an overdose. Even if something just doesn’t seem right to you, trust your gut and encourage that person to get checked out by a medical professional. If you do suspect a drug overdose, please call 911 right away and let them know so that the first responders can be ready to help. Remember that seconds matter between life and death. It is better to be safe than sorry. And now since more first responders will be carry Narcan, people have a better shot at surviving an overdose.

What happens if my loved one was given Narcan to stop an overdose?

Watching someone almost die can be really hard on you. It might be a wakeup call to your loved one, or it might not be. Either way, you are going to be going through some difficult emotions. Getting support for yourself is going to be really important. Talking to another person who has gone through the same thing you have can help. Many people find that Nar-Anon in Hillsborough County or Al-Anon in Hillsborough County helpful. Others need more personalized support. Quiet Water Counseling offers free consultations, if you have any questions, please reach out.

Finding Help in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties: What are Al-Anon and Nar-Anon Meetings?

A lot of people have reached out and told me that they really aren’t sure what Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are. Maybe you had a friend, or coworker suggest that you look up Al-Anon in Pinellas, or Al-Anon in Hillsborough County. Maybe they mentioned how great the support there is or how Tampa has so many Al-Anon meetings to choose from. But you don’t really know what it is, or if it’s right for you.

You do know that drugs and alcohol are a huge problem in the Tampa Bay Area. Actually they are a huge problem all over Florida, and all over the United States. So many people in fact are dealing with their loved ones drinking or drug use, and so many families are struggling. You are not alone, even though sometimes it might feel like you are.

Florida is a beautiful state, especially Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties but there is this disease of drug and alcohol problems that is killing the people we love here. Having a loved one with a drug or alcohol problem is really difficult to admit, much less talk about. With other diseases like with cancer, or diabetes, families have a whole lot more support, people talk about and help each other. They have walks, and wear bright colors to show support. There isn’t the shame that comes with addiction issues. Drug and alcohol problems are a whole other animal, living in the shadows of our society.

You probably have heard about and know that Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, is for people who have a drinking problem, and Narcotics Anonymous, NA, is for people addicted to drugs. There are so many AA and NA meetings in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties that your loved one could go to a meeting multiple times a day. But what about you? What about the family members? Where is your help and your support?

That’s where Al-Anon and Nar-Anon come in, these are twelve step support groups in the community for people who have a loved one with a drinking or drug problem. Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties have thriving Al-Anon meetings. There are a lot of Nar-Anon meetings as well but Al-Anon meetings seem to be more plentiful. These meetings might be at a local church or meeting hall, in rooms rented just for the meeting, and not affiliated with the specific church. They could be anywhere in the community, you might pass by one every day and not even know because it is not openly advertised and it is supposed to be anonymous. The meetings are free to attend, but they most likely will pass a basket asking for a small donation to help pay for the rent, coffee, and literature materials.

Each of the individual Al-Anon/Nar-Anon Meetings are connected to a larger area of districts/areas. For example Al-Anon in Hillsborough County is District 8, Al-Anon in Pinellas County is District 7, but the Al-Anon Meetings of Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties are combined into District 5. Each of the Districts will have events and meetings specific to their area, which will only be advertised privately. Much like AA and NA, Al-Anon and Nar-Anon meetings from multiple districts might come together for conferences, or other events. Many of the events might include or be co-located with AA or NA events as well, but not always. As with all the meetings and events anonymity is very important.

Finding the support you need when you have a loved one with a drug or alcohol problem can be really difficult. One way to get help is through Al-Anon or Nar-Anon meetings in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. But sometimes the meetings aren’t enough. Sometimes having one on one support and more personalized attention can help. So if you have any questions please reach out. Quiet Water Counseling not only offers support to clients in the Tampa Bay area, but to clients all over Florida.