Opioid and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Near You
Get Supportive Care From an Addiction Psychiatrist in Miramar Beach
Struggling with alcohol, opioids, or sedating medicines can feel lonely, but support is out there. In medical terms, addiction is called substance use disorder. It means using alcohol or drugs in a way that's hard to control and that causes problems in daily life. It's a health condition, not a personal failing, and it can be treated.
At Sea Breeze Psychiatry, Dr. Larry De Lay is a psychiatrist and a member of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Our team treats opioid use disorder with Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone). For alcohol use disorder, we offer naltrexone, which blocks some of the brain's rewarding effects of drinking. We also help adults who depend on benzodiazepines, which are sedating medicines often prescribed for anxiety or sleep.
You can visit us in person at our Miramar Beach office. Florida residents can also visit by telehealth. Whether you're ready for next steps or just starting to wonder, you're welcome to request an appointment with our team.
Medication Assisted Treatment for Addiction
Understanding Substance Use Disorder and How We Treat It
Signs of Substance Use Disorder
Doctors diagnose addiction by how it affects your life, not by how much you use. They count symptoms from a standard checklist. For alcohol, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) explains how the count works. Two to three symptoms is mild, four to five is moderate, and six or more is severe(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab).
The signs of alcohol use disorder are much the same for other substances. They often include:
- Using more than planned: Using more, or for longer, than you meant to.
- Trouble cutting down: Wanting to cut back and not being able to.
- Strong cravings: A powerful urge to drink or use.
- Life getting harder: Problems at home, at work, or with family and friends. Giving up things you used to enjoy.
- Needing more: Needing more of a substance to get the same effect.
- Withdrawal: Feeling unwell when you cut back or stop. Opioid withdrawal symptoms can include muscle aches, anxiety, sweating, nausea, and poor sleep. Alcohol withdrawal can bring shakiness, sweating, and a racing heart.
When to See a Provider About Addiction
It’s time to see a provider when substance use is causing problems you can’t solve on your own. You don’t need to be sure it’s addiction. You also don’t have to hit a breaking point first.
You might want to schedule an evaluation if you:
- Have tried to cut down or stop and weren’t able to
- Feel sick or anxious when you stop or cut back
- Notice that alcohol or drugs are affecting your work, health, or home life
- Take a prescribed medicine in ways other than directed, or worry about how much you rely on it
- Mix alcohol with opioids or with sleep or anxiety pills
Please don’t stop alcohol or benzodiazepines suddenly on your own. Withdrawal from either can be dangerous, so a provider can help you cut down more safely.
Addiction often goes along with other concerns. Our team also provides depression treatment, anxiety treatment, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. You can also read about the other mental health conditions we treat.
How Our Team Treats Addiction
Our team treats addiction with medicine and support that fit you and the substance involved. This approach is often called medication assisted treatment. For opioid use disorder, you may also see it called medications for opioid use disorder.
- Opioids: Suboxone helps prevent withdrawal when someone stops using opioids. That makes it easier to cut back or stop.
- Alcohol: Naltrexone can help prevent a return to heavy drinking.
- Benzodiazepine addiction treatment: We work with you on a slow plan to lower the dose over time. The goal is to avoid stopping all at once.
- Counseling and support: Brief psychotherapy is short-term talk therapy that’s offered on request with medication management. Options include supportive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and habits.
- Visit options: You can have a psychiatric evaluation in person at our Miramar Beach office. If you live in Florida, you can also have one by telehealth. Some people look for a Suboxone doctor or online Suboxone treatment. Your provider will talk with you about what fits your situation.
Safety Considerations and Risks of Untreated Addiction
Untreated addiction can affect your health, safety, family life, and work. Some substances also carry serious risks when you stop them or mix them.
Withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines can be dangerous and, in some cases, can cause seizures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that mixing benzodiazepines with opioids, alcohol, or illicit drugs raises the risk of overdose and death.
An opioid overdose is an emergency. Warning signs include slow or shallow breathing, extreme drowsiness, and not being able to wake up. Call 911 right away if you think someone is overdosing. Ask your provider about naloxone, a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), or call 911 for an emergency.
Recovery and Long-Term Support
Addiction is a long-term condition, and with treatment and the right support, many people build lasting recovery. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that fewer than 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder are treated with medicine(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab). It also says these medicines reduce overdose deaths, so it’s worth asking about them.
Recovery looks different for everyone. Ongoing care may mean changing your medicine, building a support system, and treating other mental health concerns.
Meet Dr. Larry De Lay
Dr. De Lay has practiced psychiatry since 2008. He is also a member of the Florida Psychiatric Society and the Emerald Coast Medical Society. At Sea Breeze Psychiatry, he sees adults in person at the Miramar Beach office and by telehealth across Florida. Our team treats addiction with respect and without judgment, so you can talk openly about what you’re facing.
We're Here to Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Suboxone contains two medicines, buprenorphine and naloxone, and it helps prevent withdrawal when someone stops using opioids. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means it acts on the same brain receptors as other opioids but only partly. The naloxone in Suboxone blocks opioid effects. According to MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine, Suboxone is usually taken once a day. It comes as a tablet or film placed under the tongue. You shouldn't stop it without talking with your doctor first.
Suboxone contains two medicines, buprenorphine and naloxone, and it helps prevent withdrawal when someone stops using opioids. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means it acts on the same brain receptors as other opioids but only partly. The naloxone in Suboxone blocks opioid effects. Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors in the brain that are involved in the rewarding effects of drinking. This can help prevent a return to heavy drinking. The NIAAA guide to alcohol treatment options says it comes as a daily pill or a monthly injection. It can also be started while a person is still drinking. If you use opioids or take opioid medicines, tell your provider first. Naltrexone can cause sudden, severe withdrawal when opioids are still in the body.
Medication assisted treatment combines medicine with counseling and support to treat addiction. The FDA has approved several medicines for it. For opioid addiction, they include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. For alcohol addiction, they include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. Our team offers Suboxone for opioid addiction treatment and naltrexone for alcohol addiction treatment. Care includes medication management, and brief psychotherapy is offered on request.
Treatment usually means lowering the dose slowly, with a plan made for you, rather than stopping all at once. The FDA safety communication on benzodiazepines says stopping suddenly or cutting the dose too fast can cause withdrawal reactions. These can include seizures and can be life-threatening. It also says no one schedule for slowly lowering the dose works for everyone. Please don't stop on your own. Our team can talk with you about a slow plan. We can also talk about the concerns that led you to take it.
Both treat opioid addiction, but they work and are given in different ways. Methadone fully activates opioid receptors and lasts a long time. Suboxone activates them only partly. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says methadone can only be dispensed through a certified opioid treatment program. Which medicine fits best depends on your health, history, and goals. Your provider can explain how they compare.
Care is offered by telehealth for Florida residents, and in person at our Miramar Beach office. Your provider can go over what to expect. You can also talk about which option fits your situation. You can read more about telepsychiatry at Sea Breeze Psychiatry.
Medicine is one part of treatment. Brief psychotherapy is offered on request alongside medication management. Options include supportive therapy and CBT, which can help people build coping skills. Our team can talk with you about the mix that makes sense for you.