Signs, Withdrawal Symptoms & Treatment Options

Drug & Alcohol Addiction

A Silent, Deadly Epidemic

Drug & Alcohol Addiction in America Today

It’s almost impossible to ignore or miss and the numbers that back it up are grim. Addiction in America is a major challenge that at times feels ever-present. Whether it touches you personally or not, it’s always floating in the periphery on the news.

America’s epidemic of addiction.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2017, 11.1 million people aged 12 and older had misused prescription pain relievers aka opioids in the past year. That’s just misuse which can quickly turn into abuse with opioids.

The amount of people who met the criteria for dependence or abuse for drugs and alcohol that same year is staggering: 19.7 million. 19.7 million Americans with a substance use disorder.

It’s foreboding and ominous sounding to be sure but it’s a crisis with a solution.

Whatever the reasons that got us here, the upside of all of it is that we’re all aware of the problem now. Fortunately, the stigma surrounding addiction has begun to dissipate and change somewhat. It’s now ok and encouraged to talk about it.

Those of us on the frontline at Bayshore Retreat, a beacon for drug and alcohol addiction help, welcome the challenge and have been a part of the solution for years.

Understanding Substance Abuse

What Exactly is the Disease of Addiction?

For starters, addiction isn’t a choice. People don’t set out with a plan to become addicts. While trying or using a drug initially is a voluntary choice, the dependency that results from it is not.

How we react to drugs and alcohol and the biological and chemical changes they make to our bodies and minds is what precipitates the disease of addiction.

That’s what makes it harder and harder to shake the longer you use.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine sums it up nicely:

“Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.”

It becomes compulsive.

What began as a release, a way to feel good or an escape mutates and escalates. It can happen slowly and it can happen quickly. What you think you can control starts to get out of hand and begins to control you. All of a sudden you need more to experience those same feelings and your life has become consumed by that pursuit of more.

That’s addiction.

What We Treat at bayshore retreat

Commonly Abused Substances

Explore our drug & alcohol substance abuse treatment services at our state-of-the-art, residential program in Destin, FL.

How to Know if Someone is addicted

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Drug Addiction?

Substance abuse intertwines with the life of the user and affects all aspects of their life. As such, the signs and symptoms of addiction are important to look for.

We all go through things in our lives so be aware that not everything you notice means you have an addict on your hands. Having a watchful eye for changes means you can catch a problem, substance-related or otherwise, early. Before it gets out of hand. It’s all about compassion in that sense.

The symptoms of abuse can change depending on the drug of choice, but they all share some commonalities and they manifest in 3 principal ways: behaviorally, psychologically and physically.

Behavioral Symptoms

Being overly secretive & isolating
Flaking on responsibilities like school, work and family obligations
Poor performance at school or work
Lack of interest in activities and hobbies they used to enjoy
Abruptly adopt a new set of “questionable” friends
Borrowing or stealing and general financial stress

Psychological Symptoms

Physical Symptoms

Weight loss and general lack of appetite
Bloodshot eyes
Interrupted or drastically changed sleep patterns
Impaired speech and coordination
Worsening of general appearance and lack of attention to grooming and personal hygiene

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Bayshore Retreat is Here for You

How to Get Help for Addiction in North Florida

Substance abuse is not a battle you should fight on your own. Neither you nor your loved one should feel like it’s only your problem to solve. Beating addiction is tough and doing it solo is even harder with the risk of relapse increasing exponentially.

Help for addiction comes in the form of a robust and customized treatment program that’s built around you. There was a unique set of circumstances that led to your substance abuse, and likewise, successful treatment is grounded in focusing holistically on you rather than implementing a standardized program.

Getting help for drug addiction or help for alcohol addiction is really a phone call away.

That said, we understand that not everyone is ready and willing to enter rehab and that the push back you might get at suggesting it could be severe. Reach out to us if you’re concerned about a friend or family member and we’ll advise the next steps to consider as best we can.

The goal is helping.

let's talk about your path to recovery.

get in touch with us now.

Individualized & Evidence-Based

Addiction Treatment Options in Destin, Florida

With addiction continuing to run rampant, thank goodness there are more and more treatment options available to push back. With many options though comes the difficulty of making a choice and the inevitable analysis paralysis sets in. Of course, the goal is to kick addiction but where you do it, matters.

Our facility is nestled in a quiet neighborhood in the stunning panhandle of North Florida. “Facility” sounds a little institutional, Bayshore Retreat is a home. A luxurious one with resort-like amenities that sits right on the water and features a private dock.

You won’t see any signs mentioning it’s a rehab facility either. Just a comfortable, drug and alcohol-free place to put yourself back together in peace.

Triumph over drug and alcohol addiction in Destin, FL, with the cool breeze coming off the water in a homelike setting that makes transitioning back to your life easier, the choice makes itself.

It may be overwhelming.

We're Here for You.

Bayshore Retreat works with most major insurance carriers and offers luxury treatment at an affordable rate in order to help you or your loved one in finding their path to recovery. Call us now to take action and find your personal path to recovery from substance abuse.

Trusted By Many...

Let Bayshore Retreat Help You Escape Addiction for Good.

Don’t go it alone, addiction is easier to beat with a team in your corner.

It may sound cheesy but it’s true, teamwork does make the dream work. If your dream is sobriety and overcoming addiction for good, join us at Bayshore Retreat.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help or to take action now, click the button below to begin the admissions process with a free consultation today.