Addiction in Pinellas County

The Opiate Crisis

Unfortunately the opiate crisis is hitting St. Pete very hard, and people are dying from overdoses at alarming rates. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Pinellas County Forensic Lab is finding that even “users looking for uppers like cocaine or meth are getting substances mixed with fentanyl, a synthetic, potent opioid similar to heroin”.

This means that even though a person might not have an opiate addiction, they might still run the risk of overdosing on opiates, not knowing what they are really putting into their bodies. Drug dealers are looking to make a quick buck, they are not concerned about the damage they are doing to our community, and Florida is being hit hard. That is why it is so important that St. Petersburg and Pinellas County has access to quality drug rehab programs.

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Alcohol Use in St. Pete

This substance use crisis is affecting the people who you know and love. St. Petersburg, in Pinellas County, Florida an area known for having the most consecutive days with sunshine and beautiful beaches is struggling with alcohol use as well. The Florida Department of Health reports that Pinellas County is experiencing an increase in heavy and binge drinking.

Alcohol use disorders are associated with many things including car crashes, violence, and even chronic diseases such as heart disease. Alcohol use disorders are very difficult to treat, because alcohol is legal, and socially accepted. But there is a difference between having a glass of wine with dinner, and drinking a couple bottles.

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Methamphetamine Use in Pinellas County Florida

Methamphetamines also known as “meth” are a problem in Pinellas County as well. Largo, Florida especially is having issues with this dangerous substance.

ABC Action News reports that a GNC employee was recently arrested for selling meth out of the store he worked at. Police Officers reported that when they walked into the store, they saw drug paraphernalia in plain view, including needles, and a scale.

In Clearwater Florida a man was arrested after investigators caught him with a needle (used to inject meth) at McDonald’s. The man even tried to hide the crystal meth in his belly button. This was at a McDonalds!!

Methamphetamine is very dangerous because it is so easy to make using regular household items, and because it is highly addictive making it even harder for people to quit using it once they start.

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When Someone You Love Needs Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Pinellas County / St. Petersburg Florida

Most people don’t want to be known as having a problem with drugs or alcohol. That’s what makes addiction so scary, because a lot of the time a person hides the disease of substance use from those they love. The person tries to cover up drinking or drug use with excuses. At first family members might believe the lies, trusting that their loved one is working late, or had a hard day. It’s easy for a person to get caught up in a culture of drinking and drugs, and before they realize it are facing severe consequences such us DUI, or overdose. You might not even realize that your loved one is addicted until their problem is very severe. Knowing the different options available for substance use treatment and having a counselor who specializes in addiction treatment is imperative to getting help as fast as possible.

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Helping You When Your Loved One Has a Drug or Alcohol Problem Pinellas County / St. Petersburg Florida and Surrounding Areas

I know how hard it is to have a loved one addicted to drugs and alcohol. I know that it hurts you to see them hurting. Getting them help is important, but I also know you need support as well.

Al-Anon Meetings in Pinellas County or Nar-Anon Meetings in Pinellas County can give you the support you need. I have attended many meetings myself and can personally say how much they helped me. However for me, and probably for you as well, getting one on one help from a counselor that specialized in drug and alcohol counselor helped me the most. Having someone who understands exactly what you and your family are going through is important. If you have any questions, please reach out.

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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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Notice of Privacy Practices and Why it is Important to You

It’s one of those many papers you get when you go see your doctor or other medical professional, The Notice of Privacy Practices. If you are like me you probably don’t read it all the way through, it’s just another piece of paper I feel like I have to sign, another law in our health care system. Well let me tell you… boy was I wrong in thinking that!!

In starting Quiet Water Counseling I am now having to read it ALL. All the laws and regulations on top of laws and regulations, and they all have to do with how you are treated.

You probably know the basic stuff, that you have a right (by law) to receive a copy of your medical record, you have a choice about who your medical provider talks to about your condition, and that your information might be shared to better treat you.

But did you also know that medical professionals can share all your health information with your health insurance plan to get payment? For some reason this has always bothered me. I guess I’m kinda old school like that, not wanting to share someone’s personal information with some stranger I don’t know. I get it though, does it really matter that my health insurance company gets access to my weight or blood pressure readings, probably not.

But there are somethings that I don’t want to share. There might be somethings that you might not want to share either. And I think that we all should have a right to keep certain things private. If you want to read my Notice of Privacy Practices you can find it on my website at www.QuietWaterCounseling.com. And please let me know if you have any questions.

Top three tips if you are hosting Thanksgiving and having somebody with a substance use disorder coming over

These are my top three tips if you are hosting Thanksgiving and having somebody with a substance use disorder coming over. Maybe they just got out of treatment or maybe they’re just about to go into rehab.

Number one, consider not serving alcohol. A lot of Thanksgivings you might want to have a beer or some wine but for the person with a substance use disorder it could be very tempting for them to relapse. You can try serving other things like a lemonade, sweet tea, maybe even a Shirley Temple.

Number two, consider locking up any medications you might have in the home. Finding a lockbox is really easy. They sell them at Wal-Mart or you can order one off Amazon. Unfortunately many people with substance use disorders get prescription pills just from stealing them from people they know. So if you have an old bottle of pain medications from a previous surgery or even an over the counter medication like cough syrup in your medicine cabinet you might want to consider locking it up in a lock box. A lock box is also a good idea if you have kids in the house, even if they are just visiting, you can never be too safe.

Number three, I want you to make sure you have fun. Just because a person has substance use disorder, and just because a person is struggling, it doesn’t mean they can’t or shouldn’t enjoy Thanksgiving just like everyone else. So get the pumpkin pie and a whole bunch of turkey and I want you to have fun!!