Key Points
- Florida’s year-round warm, sunny weather can ease your detox process.
- Programs in FL offer medical supervision, outpatient options, and complementary care.
- Detox is just the first step towards sustainable, long-term recovery.
It’s hard to know what to expect from drug and alcohol detox. Some people need 24/7 medical attention. Others focus more on emotional recovery. But one thing’s true across the board: starting treatment in a beautiful place can make healing a little easier. That’s why so many people choose to attend detox centers in Florida.
Sun in All Seasons
Florida’s tropical and subtropical climate boasts warm weather year round. So if your health permits, you might be able to spend time outside during detox. But the weather can make a difference even if you need to stay in your room. Data shows that just looking at a beautiful view can help you heal.1
Thanks to the state’s 825 miles of coastline, Florida rehabs cater to people who love the beach. And even if you’re not ready to go off-site during detox, that culture has a direct impact on treatment. For instance, most centers have outdoor pools and patios where you can relax and enjoy the sunshine. With these amenities, you can stay as comfortable as possible in any stage of recovery.
What Happens During Detox?
Detox is often the first step in addiction treatment. And it can be overwhelming. You’ll probably experience both physical and emotional symptoms during withdrawal:2
- Restlessness
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Depression
- Changes to appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sleep disturbances
These symptoms are different for everyone. And they can be more severe if you have other health issues, or if you’re healing from certain addictions. It’s especially important to get expert medical care during detox from alcohol,3 opioids,4 or benzodiazepines.5 Without proper treatment, withdrawal from these substances can be life-threatening.
In a reputable detox program, your care team might include some or all of these specialists:
- Medical doctor
- A team of nurses
- Psychiatrist
- Talk therapist
- Nutritionist
- Holistic therapists such as a massage therapist or acupuncturist
These experts provide care during inpatient detox. They can also help you plan for what comes next.
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Types of Treatment in Florida’s Detox Centers
Detox is more than a medical process. It’s also a time to prepare yourself for long-term addiction recovery. You can set yourself up for success in a program that shares your values. And Florida’s luxury detox centers support patients with a wide variety of recovery goals.
Medical Detox
According to the team at Chapel Hill Medical Detox in West Palm Beach, clients who attend “medically assisted detox are more likely to stay in treatment longer.”6 With this approach, doctors and nurses will support you through early recovery. You might taper off drug use instead of stopping cold turkey, or take non-addictive medications to help you stay comfortable. And when you’re ready, you’ll probably start seeing a talk therapist or other counselor.
Programs like these are a good fit for people who need close supervision during detox. Inpatient medical detox provides round-the-clock care, keeping you safe as you adjust to life without drug use. But it’s not the only way to begin addiction treatment.
Outpatient Detox
Sometimes, it can be better to detox in the comfort of your own home. This might be important for celebrity clients who need strict confidentiality, or people with pressing family commitments. If you’re physically healthy and you have a strong support network, you can consider outpatient detox.
In most of these programs, you’ll live independently but attend daily appointments on-site. Clients get medical and psychiatric care, and may connect with each other in group therapy. If this sounds like a good fit for you, make sure you talk to your doctor before starting treatment. While outpatient detox can make recovery more accessible, it’s not a safe option for everyone.
Holistic Treatment
Medical treatment is an essential part of detox—but it isn’t everything. Centers like Gulf Breeze Recovery combine top-notch medical care with holistic detox treatments. For example, you might get a massage between talk therapy sessions. Or you could learn to manage cravings with mindfulness techniques. This integrated approach helps you get to the root cause of your addiction, so you can heal from the inside out.
Individualized Care
The healing process is different for everyone. That’s true in every stage of recovery, from withdrawal to aftercare. So some of Florida’s rehabs tailor the detox process to suit each client’s needs.
The team at Agape Detox Center, for example, takes a “targeted, whole-health approach” to recovery. They evaluate each client’s lifestyle, health history, and risk factors for addiction. That information helps them design your unique plan of care. That plan will likely include talk therapy, medical treatment, and nutritional support. In bespoke treatment, you’ll learn more about your own needs. And with that knowledge, you can go on to build a life you love.
Comprehensive Recovery
Compared to residential rehab, detox doesn’t last very long.7 For most types of addiction, withdrawal symptoms subside in a few days to a week. But that’s not the end of addiction recovery.
Many detox programs require you to have a long-term treatment plan before you even arrive. Usually, that means enrolling in a residential rehab program. So when you complete detox, you can go directly to your next treatment center (in Florida or elsewhere).
Some Florida rehabs make this process much easier. Providers like Immersion Recovery Center offer both detox and residential recovery. You can still detox in one program and go to rehab in another, but you don’t have to. Instead of moving, you can focus on the transition that matters most: your healing process.
Comprehensive Care in the Sunshine State
In many places, detoxing from drugs or alcohol can be isolating. That doesn’t have to be true in the Sunshine State. These bespoke programs could be a great fit if you love warm weather—even if you plan to enjoy it through your bedroom window.
Some of the best rehabs in Florida known for their quality care also accept Medicaid and other state insurance options for individuals seeking treatment and recovery.
Explore Florida’s detox centers to find a program that’s right for you.
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Ulrich, Roger S. “View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery.” Science, vol. 224, no. 4647, Apr. 1984, pp. 420–21. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6143402.
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Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4131. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006.
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Withdrawal Management. World Health Organization, 2009. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/.
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Shah, Mansi, and Martin R. Huecker. “Opioid Withdrawal.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2022. PubMed, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526012/.
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Edinoff, Amber N., et al. “Benzodiazepines: Uses, Dangers, and Clinical Considerations.” Neurology International, vol. 13, no. 4, Dec. 2021, pp. 594–607. www.mdpi.com, https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint13040059.
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“Medically Supervised Detox | Chapel Hill Detox | West Palm Beach, FL.” Chapel Hill, https://www.chapelhilldetox.com/programs/medical-detox/. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.
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Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 15-4131. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006.
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