
Similar to the rest of the country, North Port, FL, located in Sarasota County, has experienced the negative consequences of opioid addiction, including overdoses.
Because of this, in recent years, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office began providing training to its deputies, teaching them how to respond to overdoses, especially in the case of opioids.1 Since the agency began using naloxone—a medication used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses—Sarasota deputies have administered the medicine to 123 residents.1 In 2017 alone, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s office saved 59 lives through the use of naloxone by deputies.1Â
While naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opioids, there are other medications that can be used to treat addiction and withdrawal. Certain medications can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms during medical detox to keep the person comfortable and safe throughout the process.2 Keep in mind, some treatment centers offer medication, while others do not.



Dream Center for Recovery (DCR) worked wonders for me. I am currently one year sober and it's all due to DCR. DCR has taught me coping skills and how to make my life manageable again. The accommodations are nonetheless more than expected. Rooms are clean, pool is maintained, rec center / cafeteria cleaned. The chef onsite bakes everything. No fried food. If you're allergic to a certain food and / or are a vegetarian, Chef accommodates as much as possible. Every Sunday there's adventure therapy. You learn to live again without the need of alcohol or drugs. DCR tries to bring you back to normality as healthy as possible. I would and have already recommended DCR to people in need of recovery.
There were 2 parts--Detox Facility: Skilled and caring staff, high tech equipment, Clean and Beautiful Accommodations. Rehab: Clean and Nice accommodations. Detox: No weaknesses in my opinion. Rehab: No flexibility on rules in regards to age or type or addiction. Everyone was treated the same as if in a mold, everyone is not the same. I was 50 years old and not a street addict or forced there, still was treated the same as the 20 year old's. Much too strict for me--too many rules, and other things I did not like I had to leave "Against Medical Advice", and was driven to a train station not knowing if I had money for a flight or anything and not feeling well at all and not being able to use a phone on their premises first. It was awful. The Florida House Detox did what they were supposed to do with me: detox off of Methadone after 7 years, but then I was sent to the Rehab facility and was not prepared and was shocked by the experience since I'd never been to a Detox/Rehab and the Rehab to me felt like jail. I would send my son or daughter there knowing they were in good hands as The Florida House knows what they're doing. But me being 50 I couldn't handle the rules and the marching around and the very busy schedule.
Selecting North Port Rehabilitation Programs
As with other areas of Florida, North Port has struggled with issues in the housing market and unemployment. However, those seeking North Port drug rehab are still able to find quality programs.
Advice on Selecting a Program
Often, rehab treatment is tailored to a patient’s needs and desires. Seeking North Port drug rehab means that you have shown awareness of your addiction, and taken steps to solve the problem. With the right tools in place, your addiction can be addressed using specific, proven intervention techniques. These can include residential treatment for intensive therapy, social services for outpatient therapy, long-term planning, and mental health referrals.
Symptoms of Addiction
Deciding if your substance use is actually an addiction can be tricky. The following are some behavioral signs that indicate you may have an addiction problem.
Communicate any signs or symptoms of addiction to your doctor or therapist when considering drug addiction interventions.
Get the Help You Need in North Port
Understanding your options for North Port drug treatment programs is the first step in making a solid plan for a sober future.
Medications exist that can help to treat a person’s addiction to opioids. In fact, research shows that the initial treatment for addictions to opioids—such as fentanyl, heroin, or prescription pain medication—should be medication combined with behavioral therapy.2 Unfortunately, less than half of all private treatment programs offer medications for opioid use disorders.3 Therefore, if you are searching for an opioid addiction treatment program, you’ll want to do your research and ask about what medications the program offers before committing to that rehab.
Methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone are all types of medications that are used to treat addiction and/or withdrawal in opioid users.2 Medication also exists to treat both nicotine and alcohol addiction. For nicotine addiction, nicotine replacement therapies like gum or patches are used. For alcohol addiction, naltrexone and disulfiram might be used.2 Presently, there are no specific treatment medications approved for those who are addicted to other types of drugs, such as stimulants or marijuana. Instead, treatment for such addictions will focus on behavioral therapy.2
In addition to managing withdrawal and treating addiction, some rehab programs are also equipped to manage co-existing mental health issues. Many individuals with substance use disorders have other mental health issues that could contribute to the addiction, such as depression or bipolar disorder. When combined with behavioral therapy and under the careful watch of medical staff, research shows that medication can be very useful in promoting a successful recovery.4
If you or your loved one is ready to take the next step toward recovery, use our nationwide rehab search tool today search for rehab programs in North Port or nearby areas.
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