Alcohol addiction is one of the most insidious forms of substance abuse because of its tendency to go undetected. The fact that alcohol is legal for adults to buy makes its use widespread and often habituated. Sadly, many people develop a substance use disorder without even realizing it. The health risks are enormous, ranging from heart disease and liver failure to malnutrition and chronic sleep disturbance. In northwestern Florida, alcohol use is particularly problematic. If you or a loved one is struggling and could use alcohol rehab in the Pensacola area, contact Gulf Breeze Recovery today. The friendly staff at our center located just south of the city across Pensacola Bay is eager to assist you at 833.551.2304.
What’s the Particular Need for Alcohol Rehab in Pensacola, Florida?
While some may dismiss alcohol as a harmless, minor intoxicant, its effects can be nothing short of deadly. Especially in locations like Pensacola, exaggerated alcohol use patterns can emerge due to prevalent beachside partying. Combining alcohol with the dehydrating effects of bright sunlight can make its impact even more severe. Moreover, many Floridians also struggle with various other substance use disorders and drink alcohol simultaneously.
In the Florida Medical Examiners Commission’s 2021 Interim Report, alcohol ranked second among the drugs most often found in autopsies. Fentanyl was the only substance that preceded it. A staggering 3,132 descendants showed alcohol in their systems. Also importantly, the drugs causing the most deaths were, in descending order of magnitude, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, fentanyl analogs, benzos, and amphetamine. While alcohol fell in the middle of the pack this way, it was nonetheless the primary cause of 718 deaths.1
What’s more, the organization Achieve Healthy EscaRosa, a collaboration between the Florida Department of Health in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, where Pensacola is located, and several nonprofit organizations surveyed residents in 2021 and published a report on their findings in 2022. A key set of facts to emerge were the leading causes of death in the counties. Heart disease stood at number one in Santa Rosa. Weighing in at number 10, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis also made an appearance.2 Both these conditions often correlate with escalated alcohol consumption over time.
What Can I Expect From My Alcohol Treatment Program at Gulf Breeze Recovery?
Alcohol rehab begins with detox, a supervised process where clients get free from the substance’s immediate effects. While this process can be quite uncomfortable if you have severe chemical dependence, it’s essential for creating a healthier life. Detoxifying in an accredited treatment center or hospital can be a game-changer because severe alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous on your own.
While fairly rare, a condition called delirium tremens sometimes occurs when a person with a strong dependence withdraws from alcohol. Symptoms like elevated blood pressure, shaking, and hallucinations can ensue, making supervision a very supportive choice. After detox, alcohol rehab introduces evidence-supported interventions like:
- Experiential therapy in which clients utilize props, art, or role-playing to process feelings and experiences related to their alcohol use
- Group therapy in which peer support and sharing facilitate greater understanding and compassion for self and others during recovery
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a neuroscience-based trauma treatment modality with high success rates
- Family therapy to help clients reconcile with loved ones who may have been negatively impacted by their substance use
- Exercise therapy to provide further non-substance-based coping skills and help restore physical health after the bodily impacts of problematic drinking
Enroll in Alcohol Rehab Near Sunny Pensacola, Florida by Contacting Gulf Breeze Recovery
While alcohol continues to claim many lives each year in Florida and the United States more broadly, interventions are available. At Gulf Breeze Recovery, we believe in a holistic approach to care and will always strive to treat our guests with respect. Compassion and attention to individual needs are also priorities. Your individualized treatment pathway at our picturesque center can serve as the start of your newly empowered, alcohol-free life. Just call us at 833.551.2304 or fill out our confidential online contact form to get answers to your questions or begin enrollment. Reach us from Pensacola by taking US-98 East across Pensacola Bay. We’re located in Gulf Breeze next to the Santa Rosa Boat and Yacht Club.
Source:
1. Florida Medical Examiners Commission – Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons 2021 Interim Report
2. Achieve Healthy EscaRosa – 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment
