Florida is just like any other state when it comes to substance abuse issues, and it has its share of problems related to addiction. Alcohol is the number one most abused substance in Florida. This may seem a little weird at first, but alcohol is a drug like any other because it’s a mood and mind-altering substance, even if it’s legal to purchase. It tops the list of drugs seen in treatment centers as the primary substance of abuse. It is legal, for those age 21 and over, and it’s easily attainable. Even those that are under 21, don’t seem to have much of an issue obtaining it when they want it. Medical marijuana is now legal in Florida, however, as an illicit drug, it is a close second to alcohol when it comes to substances that are most commonly abused in the state. Prescription opioid medications are the third most commonly abused drug in Florida. 
Opioid Addiction Crisis in Florida
Florida, like the entire rest of the United States, is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. If you or a loved one are affected, the most important first step is to reach out for professional help, support, or guidance. This can be in the form of a Florida rehab center or a certified interventionist. Florida’s rise in opioid and heroin abuse has a lot to do with the pill mills that were put up all over the state back in the early 2000s. People from all over the United States flocked to Florida because they could obtain prescription opioids for cheap and very easy at the unscrupulous walk-in clinics. Stricter regulations have now been put on obtaining prescription opioid medications, so a lot of people switched to heroin abuse. Heroin is cheaper and more easily attainable, especially in Florida. Florida is a southern state, and heroin can be easily brought in from Mexico. Our government can track what is happening in each state in regard to substance use disorders and Florida is no exception in this case. According to statistics provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction in Florida continues with a troubling trend:
Nearly 68% of the 4,698 reported drug overdose deaths in Florida involved opioids in 2018—a total of 3,189 fatalities (and a rate of 15.8) Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (mainly fentanyl and fentanyl analogs) remained stable but high with 2,091 in 2018 (a rate of 10.7). Deaths involving heroin and prescription opioids also remained steady with a respective 689 (a rate of 3.5) and 1,282 (a rate of 6.0) reported in 2018. In 2018, Florida providers wrote 53.7 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons, compared to the average U.S. rate of 51.4 prescriptions. This is the lowest rate since 2006 when this data became available. (NIH)
Other Illegal Drugs Abused in Florida
Some of the other popular drugs abused in Florida include cocaine and stimulants. It’s no secret that there has been a rise in methamphetamine abuse across the country. So much focus has been put on the opioid epidemic that no one saw this methamphetamine epidemic coming. People were making it in homemade labs using over-the-counter cold medications and now the drug is being brought in the country from Mexico at alarming rates. Cocaine is another popular drug that is commonly abused in Florida, and it is also brought into the state through Mexico. A lot of these drugs are seized upon entry, but there is a large quantity that still gets through and distributed on the streets. Tranquilizers or central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines round out the list of drugs most commonly seen in drug treatment admissions. A fair amount of opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines are obtained legally through prescriptions, however, most people that abuse these drugs obtain them illegally.
Professional Florida Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction, our addiction specialists are available around the clock to assist you. Evoke Wellness at Miramar offers cutting edge addiction treatment programs. Our facilities are committed to helping clients throughout the whole treatment experience. We will help you get through the detox process comfortably and onto residential treatment under our professional care. You don’t have to suffer any longer. Let Evoke Wellness assist you on the road to long-lasting recovery.
