Alcohol & Drug Rehab For Seniors in Florida (131)

Alcohol and Drug Rehab for Seniors in Florida

In addition, to warm weather and being home to all the vacation attractions of the Sunshine State, there are two other things for which Florida has come to be known: senior citizens and drug addiction. Up until very recent regulatory intervention, the state was known as the pill mill capital of the country due to its large concentration of pain management clinics where addicted persons could easily procure medication from disreputable clinicians. In certain areas, such as the Miami and Fort Lauderdale communities, cocaine still poses an urgent and pervasive public health threat.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there were 5,088 overdose deaths in Florida in 2017. Data from the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation indicates that 587 Floridians over the age of fifty-five died from an opioid overdose that same year. These high rates of senior citizen mortality are attributable to a variety of physical, psychological, and cultural factors. Although we often think of drug addiction as a younger person’s issue, seniors across the country remain more vulnerable than ever, and the state of Florida is far from an exception to this growing problem.

Addressing the Substance Abuse Needs of Florida’s Elderly Population

The senior citizen population faces a unique and specialized set of care needs when it comes to addiction treatment. Clinical interventions for this population must take into account the body’s increasing inability to properly metabolize drugs and alcohol, which can lead to chronic pain, along with the mental health issues that very often accompany the aging process. in addition to conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s, these conditions can include depression and anxiety disorder triggered by the realities of getting older.

As the need for specialized addiction treatment for the elderly has become increasingly apparent, more and more facilities have begun to offer age-specific addiction treatment. If you or someone you care about needs alcohol or drug rehab for seniors in Florida, start browsing our database of treatment centers to find the best option for you.

Resources:

• kff.org - Opioid Overdose Deaths and Opioid Overdose Deaths as a Percent of All Drug Overdose Death
• cdc.gov -Drug Overdose Deaths