Florida should continue to lead on substance abuse treatment

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Substance abuse and the co-occurring behavioral or mental health issues have risen to crisis level across the country including in Florida.

Approximately 8%, or 1.5 million Floridians, are using illicit drugs at any given time and about 410,000 of those individuals suffered from drug dependence within the last year. 

The opioid and fentanyl epidemic have been hitting Florida particularly hard, with prescription drug abuse and overdose deaths rising rapidly in recent years.

Alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine abuse are also on the rise. It’s no secret that these substances have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of those who use them, as well as their families, communities, and local areas as a whole.

This addiction epidemic is particularly alarming, with many individuals who become addicted to prescription opioids eventually turning to heroin or fentanyl.

However, many of those addicted do not need to turn to fentanyl as it is being laced into every substance all over the country – including illegally bought marijuana. Deaths due to fentanyl and fentanyl-laced substances are wreaking havoc on communities across Florida and the nation at large.

As recently as 2020, more than 6,150 people in Florida died of fentanyl overdoses.

The rise in substance abuse in Florida has placed a tremendous strain on the state’s healthcare and criminal justice systems. In addition to the physical and mental health consequences of substance abuse, there are also devastating economic costs – from increased healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and the untold damage on a personal level, economically, mentally and physically.

Substance abuse is also brutal on families and the communities we live in, leading to increased domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, as well as epidemic levels of homelessness.

Despite the challenges posed by substance abuse in Florida, there is hope for those struggling with addiction. Recovery is possible, and those who are seeking help have access to a range of programs and services that can support their journey to sobriety.

One of the key components of a successful recovery is access to quality treatment programs that provide evidence-based care, including behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and other social-supportive services to help those in need re-enter society.

The Florida based model of treatment, also known as the “Florida Model,” where licensed based scientific, clinical, medical and holistic experiential care, integrated with recovery residences for those in need to reside while receiving this treatment, is the essential and tested model that has the best results and is the way forward.

However, years back, the quality of these residences and the “Florida Model” was not being practiced; in fact, there was intentional targeting of addicts in need of quality-based care by brazen criminals with zero intention to do anything but abuse those in their “residences.”

To address those issues, the Florida Legislature took rapid steps to bring in line bad actors in the sober home industry and to help ensure that those in recovery had better access to quality care. 

That rapid action worked, but now we face the next level of this crisis, taking steps that the next set of laws and regulations are calibrated to ensure that the substance use disorder treatment industry is woven into the healthcare industry with proper guidelines to the benefit of the facilities and patients they serve during what will be a long-term addiction epidemic requiring integrated professional care. 

In the end, substance abuse and recovery are complex issues that require a comprehensive and coordinated response from healthcare treatment providers, policymakers, law enforcement, local communities, the insurance industry and family involvement.

While there is much work to be done to provide the best professional regulatory framework for the industry to thrive for the betterment of the patients served, there is also hope and evidence that recovery is possible and that a better future is within reach.

Florida is now one of the better states to receive substance abuse treatment in those facilities that adhere to the proper model, but there are further measures we can take to be the leader in how to best provide treatment to those struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues.

Our elected leaders continue to prioritize combating the opioid crisis by educating themselves and involving stakeholders from the affected parties. Florida is leading the way and must continue to come together to ensure patients are receiving life-saving care.

Tory Perfetti is a statewide leader in substance abuse and mental health treatment and is the owner of Better Tomorrow Treatment Center. Better Tomorrow is committed to enhancing the lives of men and women living with the devastating effects of drug addiction by providing quality mental health and substance abuse treatment in an atmosphere that enhances healing and promotes compassion and well-being for all. For more information, visit bettertomorrowtc.com