Floridians abuse a wide variety of substances. The majority of commonly abused substances check three boxes. They are affordable, accessible, and addictive. Knowing which substances are most often abused helps. This knowledge can give you and the people you care about insight into each substance’s abuse potential.
Knowing about the risks certain drugs pose is only half the battle. Taking action to prevent a potential substance use disorder, or to combat an existing one, are both integral parts of reducing the influence of drug abuse in Treasure Island, FL. At Footprints Beachside Recovery, we provide addiction treatment programs in Florida that can address the full scope of your situation. Our team is equipped to help you maintain success for the long term and is open to all questions you might have. Reach out for help at727-954-3908 today. Every day is a gift.
What Makes a Substance Easy to Abuse?
Everybody has a different individual propensity to begin abusing drugs. It may be higher for some people and lower for others, and this is something that’s almost always taken into account when beginning treatment. In the same way that these factors can contribute to an individual’s substance use disorder, different substances have variables that make them easier or harder to abuse.
Abuse potential is an index used by the CDC and other organizations to chart how easy a drug is to abuse. Determining abuse potential takes into account a number of properties of the substance, like how quickly its effects begin to occur, its potency, and its duration. Substances that have a high abuse potential include:
- Heroin – Heroin is highly addictive and is known for causing intense cravings. The high it produces is dangerous and can lead to overdose without proper precautions.
- Cocaine is a stimulant that produces intense bursts of energy, but also carries a significant risk of addiction.
- Methamphetamine – Meth has dangerous short-term and long-term effects, including insomnia and depression. It’s highly addictive and can have severe consequences, even in small doses.
- Morphine – Morphine is a highly powerful and addictive opioid that can cause physical dependence in as little as two weeks. It’s often used in the treatment of pain but carries with it significant risks if abused.
- Benzodiazepines – Benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Xanax, are prescribed to treat anxiety or sleep disorders.
Drugs with a low abuse potential can still be abused just as heavily—but it’s much less common.
How Addiction Rates in Florida Have Changed
Looking at the most commonly abused substances in Florida paints a similar picture to that of the whole U.S., with a steady climb in the abuse of drugs across the board. Opiates have soared in popularity, namely oxycodone, fentanyl, and heroin. Marijuana, cocaine, and even alcohol have seen a surge in use (and, as often follows, abuse.)
Given how privately some people can deal with addiction, it’s difficult to pin a number on how many individuals are suffering from substance use disorder. Tracking the number of drug-related deaths is not directly indicative of how many people are abusing substances. However, it can demonstrate how trends may be rising or falling.
In 2015, the number of deaths caused by drug overdose in Florida within 12 months was 2,755. Since then, that figure has more than tripled—landing at the peak of 8,250 deaths in 2022. Compared with New York, a state with a comparable population, a coinciding peak of overdose was under half that of Florida at 3,100 deaths.1
Footprints Beachside Recovery Offers Addiction Rehab in Treasure Island, FL
For those living in the state of Florida who are personally impacted by the dangers of substance abuse, finding a treatment center that addresses your individual needs is a critical part of recovery. That’s why at Footprints Beachside Recovery, we offer holistic care that treats addiction at its source. With our intimate luxury beach treatment with only 15 beds in Treasure Island, we hope you’ll feel at home during recovery. Find out which of our different treatment plans suits you best by contacting our team at 727-954-3908 today. Please reach out for help today. Don’t wait. We can help you achieve the life you deserve.
