Homestead is a city in the southern part of Miami-Dade County. South Florida is a sprawling metropolitan area with plenty of access to prescription and illicit drugs. Highly populated coastal areas are prime locations for the black market drug trade. But even in the middle of the current opioid addiction epidemic, alcohol remains one of the most common sources of substance use disorders. Alcoholism can pose a public health threat to cities like Homestead. Learn more about the importance of alcohol rehab in Homestead, Florida.
Homestead Alcohol Rehab Statistics
In Florida, alcohol was involved in 1,654 deaths that medical examiners investigated in 2018. Of these, alcohol was the primary cause in 866 cases. In the United States, alcohol is one of the most prevalent recreational substances. The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than 86 percent of people tried alcohol at least once in their lives. More than 26 percent reported binge drinking, which is drinking to the point where your blood-alcohol level reaches 0.08 g/dL. Alcohol was also the most frequent substance found in cases examined by medical examiners in 2018.
Substances Commonly Mixed With Alcohol
Alcohol is often combined with other substances both by accident and intentionally. Alcohol may be mixed with other prescription or illicit substances without knowing how the drugs might interact. However, some use alcohol to enhance the recreational effects of certain drugs.
For instance, alcohol can counteract some of the negative effects of stimulants like cocaine. However, it can also lead you to believe you can take higher doses than your body can handle. Alcohol has the opposite effect on opioids and other depressants like benzodiazepines. Drinking with these drugs can intensify its effects leading to an overdose with relatively low doses.
In Florida, drugs like benzodiazepines are often found in drug-related deaths, but they’re rarely found as the only drug present. For instance, the drug alprazolam was found in 173 deaths in Miami in 2018, but all but 10 of those cases involved other drugs like alcohol or opioids.
Quick Treatment Facts
Alcoholism is a form of addiction that’s officially diagnosed as alcohol use disorder (AUD). Though alcohol addiction is a chronic disease, it’s one that can be effectively treated. Addiction affects the reward center of the brain and changes the way you prioritize alcohol.
The reward center is designed to identify needs and positive activities. When you encounter stress or other discomfort, your brain may crave alcohol to cope.
Addiction treatment is a complex process that’s designed to address multiple needs. Effective treatment will address substance abuse along with other needs like medical and psychological issues.
When you enter a treatment program, you’ll meet with medical and clinical professionals that will help create a personalized treatment plan for your needs.
