Miami’s population is made up of many races and ethnicities and includes a large Latino population. After New York City, Miami is also the country’s most popular destination for international tourists. Visitors and residents alike enjoy numerous art and cultural destinations, including museums, musical performance groups and a film festival.
As a port city, Miami’s exposure to drug trafficking is higher than other cities in Florida. This influx of drugs likely drives rates of certain types of substance use higher, such as cocaine use. Providing Miami residents with comprehensive addiction treatment options is one way to reduce the harm caused by drug use.
Miami Addiction Treatment
Addiction doesn’t discriminate or impact only one type of person. Instead, individuals from every walk of life struggle with this debilitating disease.
Addiction is a disease, and it should be treated as such. Like other diseases, addiction treatment should reflect a person’s unique needs, health and medical history and any other pertinent concerns. Part of delivering this individualized and comprehensive care includes evaluating a person’s life and the state of their addiction.
To do this, trained specialists will likely conduct a clinical assessment. This evaluation will focus on determining:
- The drug(s) of use
- How long a person has been addicted for
- How severe the addiction is
- If a person has relapsed, and if so, how many times
- If a person has any mental health conditions that need to be treated
Much like other diseases, treatment may involve various medications. Another primary component of addiction treatment is behavioral therapies. This dual approach of medications and behavioral therapy works to ensure that a person has a better chance of achieving mind-body-spirit wellness.
In Miami, a person’s addiction treatment continuum of care may include:
- Professional intervention services
- Medical detox programs
- Inpatient addiction treatment
- Outpatient addiction treatment
- Aftercare and alumni support services
Miami Intervention Services
Miami intervention services will help family members to reestablish relationships and have a productive conversation about the impact of addiction in their lives.
With the guidance of a highly trained interventionist, the person in need of treatment and their family will be educated on addiction and the reasons why treatment is right for them. A good intervention service will assist with travel arrangements and the treatment admission process.
Miami Drug And Alcohol Detox Programs
Miami medically supervised detox programs provide 24-hour medical oversight while a person’s body begins to heal, stabilize and regain more normal functioning. This expert and compassionate care is focused on preventing relapse and preparing a person for rehab.
Medications may be used to get withdrawal symptoms under control, especially if a person is addicted to alcohol, benzodiazepines or opioid drugs.
Miami Inpatient Addiction Treatment
During residential addiction treatment, sobriety is fostered by a combination of treatments, therapies and interactions with a recovery community. Living on site at a treatment center gives a person round-the-clock access to the help they need.
The most effective Miami inpatient drug rehab centers base their treatment on an individualized care module. This means that each client has a treatment plan that is specifically built with their needs in mind. Many inpatient facilities provide detoxification and aftercare programs, so that a person can transition seamlessly from one step of the recovery process to the next.
Specialized addiction treatment programs in Miami are designed to address specific recovery needs. Some, like LGBTQIA+ friendly programs and gender-specific treatment groups, provide environments or living arrangements that can make a person feel more safe, comfortable and understood while they’re participating in treatment.
Additional specialized inpatient addiction treatment programs in Miami may include:
- Art or music therapy
- Dual-diagnosis care
- Medication-assisted treatment using Suboxone or methadone
- Pet or equine therapy
- Religious or faith-based programs
- 12-step groups and 12-step alternatives
- Wilderness or adventure therapy
Not every treatment program provides the same level of care or combination of treatment services that a person may need. To better ensure a positive treatment experience and success, many people look to out-of-town or out-of-state addiction treatment programs. This expands a person’s options to find specialized addiction treatment and offers an opportunity for a fresh start.
Miami Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Most outpatient rehab programs permit a person to take part in treatment while still living at home. Though this may seem ideal, this lack of structure can actually be detrimental to certain people.
If withdrawal, cravings or the treatment process become too overwhelming, it is much easier to abandon outpatient treatment. Once treatment ends for the day, a person may also be exposed to people, places or activities that act as triggers for relapse.
Residential inpatient programs offer a much higher degree of protection from these risks. Outpatient care can, however, work well for a person with a mild addiction, minor relapse or who is transitioning from inpatient treatment.
Miami Aftercare And Alumni Services
Recovery is a lifelong process. With this in mind, many Miami addiction treatment centers provide program graduates with an aftercare plan or access to alumni support services. These services offer encouragement, resources and a network of recovery-minded individuals.
In Miami, aftercare services may include:
- Alumni mentorship programs
- Family therapy and support programs
- Individual and group therapy or counseling
- Job skills training
- Online recovery resources
- Self-improvement classes
- Sober living homes
Miami Addiction Treatment Program Length
The treatment process shouldn’t be rushed. Though short-term treatment may be appealing, longer programs can increase a person’s chance of success. In fact, research has shown that programs that last three months or longer produce the most favorable outcomes.
In Miami, a range of treatment lengths exist, including:
- 14-day to 30-day programs
- 60-day programs
- 90-day programs
- 120-day programs
- Six-month programs
- Programs lasting a year or more
How To Pay For Miami Addiction Treatment
Individual and family health insurance plans may offer benefits that cover a portion of the cost of addiction treatment. Each plan is different, which can change the amount of a person’s copay, coinsurance or deductible. Insurance coverage may help a person pay for detoxification, inpatient care or outpatient therapy.
Residents of Miami seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction may be able to access these benefits as provided by:
Treatment centers may suggest additional forms of assistance, such as:
- Medical credit cards
- Monthly payment plans
- Scholarships or grants
- Sliding-scale fees
Substance Use Trends In Miami
Cocaine Use In Miami
A significant amount of the cocaine that is trafficked into the United States makes its way into the country through Florida. Miami is one port where Columbian cocaine is smuggled through. Because of this, cocaine use and addiction remain a high concern in Miami and Miami-Dade County. In the first half of 2017, 60 percent of drug-related deaths in Miami-Dade County were linked to cocaine.
Cocaine may be cut or laced with other substances, some of which, like fentanyl, are highly addictive and carry a high potential for overdose. Statewide, 88 percent of these cases involved at least one other drug in addition to cocaine.
In 2016, the following drugs were present in cocaine-related deaths in Florida:
- Morphine: 33.6 percent of cases
- Fentanyl: 32.1 percent of cases
- Ethanal (alcohol): 28.3 percent of cases
- Heroin: 24.2 percent of cases
- Fentanyl analogues: 22.8 percent of cases
- Alprazolam: 20.2 percent of cases
- Cannabinoids (marijuana compounds): 15.5 percent of cases
- Oxycodone: 11.7 percent of cases
- Codeine: 9.8 percent of cases
- Methamphetamine: 5.6 percent of cases
Drug Overdose Deaths In Miami
Overdose deaths in Miami-Dade from heroin and cocaine reached a fifteen-year high in 2016. In that year, in Miami-Dade County:
- Roughy 36 people died from cocaine per month
- 439 fatalities were cocaine-related
- 139 fatalities were heroin-related
Opioid pain medications are frequently used in Miami. Painkillers can cause respiratory depression and overdose. In Florida, out of all opioid deaths excluding heroin, 71 percent were due to the following five opioids:
In the first half of 2017, these substances were determined to be the cause of death for 255 fatalities in Miami-Dade.
Drug And Alcohol Use In Miami
Alcohol use is one of the most common forms of substance use in Miami. Beyond this, numerous people experience addiction to illicit and prescription drugs.
Commonly used Illicit drugs:
- Cocaine, including crack
- Heroin
- Illicit fentanyl
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Synthetic cannabinoids (“fake weed”)
Commonly used prescription drugs:
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Ativan (lorazepam)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
- Restoril (temazepam)
- Valium (diazepam)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Prescription opioid painkillers
- Codeine
- Actiq (fentanyl)
- Duragesic (fentanyl)
- Norco (hydrocodone)
- Vicodin (hydrocodone)
- Dilaudid (hydromorphone)
- Demerol (meperidine)
- Dolophine (methadone)
- Methadose (methadone)
- Duramorph (morphine)
- MS Contin (morphine)
- OxyContin (oxycodone)
- Percocet (oxycodone)
- Opana (oxymorphone)
- Prescription ADHD stimulant medications
- Adderall (dextroamphetamine/amphetamine)
- Concerta (methylphenidate)
- Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine)
- Ritalin (methylphenidate)
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)
Signs And Symptoms Of Substance Use And Addiction
When a person first begins to take a drug, they typically seek the euphoria or pleasurable feeling the substance creates. Many people use a substance to self-medicate a physical or mental health problem, such as depression or chronic pain. This is common with prescription drugs, however it may also occur with alcohol or any other drug.
Some people begin to use a drug in an attempt to enhance their academic or professional performance. This is common with stimulant use, such as misuse of prescription ADHD medications. If a person claims they are taking a drug to self-treat a condition or to boost their ability at work or at school, this can be a major red flag for addiction.
Other signs of use include when a person claims they can’t relax without a drug or that a drug helps them to be themselves.
As use continues, a person will likely exhibit one or all of the following major signs of a substance use disorder:
- Cravings
- Tolerance
- Dependence
- Withdrawal
These symptoms of addiction can drive a person to take drugs more often and in higher quantities. To bypass a tolerance, satisfy cravings or to reduce or prevent withdrawal, many people continue to consume drugs or alcohol.