Addiction Treatment in Florida
Learn about the history, impact, and resources for drug and alcohol abuse in Miami and along the Space Coast, Treasure Coast, Gold Coast, and Florida Keys.
Rehab & Addiction Resources in Florida
Drug and alcohol misuse and addiction are serious problems all over the United States, and Florida is no exception. Fortunately, substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable illness, and there are many resources for addiction treatment in Florida.1, 2
Many people need professional care to not only help them get sober, but to remain in recovery long after treatment ends. There are many quality rehabs in Florida to help someone maintain their sobriety.
Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Florida
The appropriate course of action for addiction treatment varies depending on individual needs.1 For example, someone with serious co-occurring disorders or medical problems may require more intensive inpatient care, whereas for others, outpatient treatment may be sufficient.3
Fortunately, someone looking for rehab in Florida will find that every type of addiction treatment is available to them. Common forms of treatment include:3
- Medical detox.
- Interim care (for someone as they wait to be admitted to formal treatment).
- Inpatient care (in a hospital setting).
- Residential (live-in) treatment.
- Outpatient treatment.
- Sober-living facilities (for people transitioning out of residential treatment).
Typically, treatment begins with detox, or the process the body goes through to rid itself of an addictive substance or substances. Medical detox is performed under the supervision of professional clinical staff, to ease patient discomfort and withdrawal symptoms. While detox is important for many people with SUD, rehab is usually needed to help someone achieve lasting sobriety.1, 4
Rehab can occur in several settings with varying levels of intensity (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, etc.), and is how patients build the necessary skills to repair thought and behavioral patterns that lead them to use drugs or drink.1, 5
Following rehab, many patients benefit from joining an aftercare program. Like rehab, continuing care may take many different forms. Aftercare can range from attending weekly 12-Step meetings to an extended stay in a sober living facility.6
Recovery First is a high-quality rehab in Florida that provides:
- Medical detox.
- Intensive rehab.
- Residential care.
- Partial hospitalization.
- Intensive outpatient treatment.
- Telehealth care.
- Aftercare planning.
Recovery First also offers specialized treatment tracks for veterans, first responders, and healthcare professionals.
Inpatient Treatment in Florida
Inpatient treatment is an intensive form of rehab in which patients spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at a facility for the duration of treatment. For some—typically, those with serious medical conditions—this occurs in a hospital setting, while other facilities offer a hotel-like environment with features and amenities to make the stay more comfortable. At Recovery First, some of these amenities include:
- A fitness center.
- Indoor and outdoor recreational activities.
- Apartment-style lodging.
- Mindfulness spaces.
- And more.
Outpatient Rehab in Florida
Many patients can benefit from rehabilitation treatment while still living at home. Outpatient treatment enables patients to visit a treatment facility multiple times a week for hours at a time before returning home each day. Like inpatient treatment, there are varying levels of intensiveness for outpatient care. Outpatient options in Florida at Recovery First include:
- Partial hospitalization or “day treatment.” The partial hospitalization program (PHP) requires patients to attend treatment at the facility for 5–6 hours a day, 5–7 days a week.
- Intensive outpatient treatment.
- Telehealth treatment.
There are many services available to help during a drug or alcohol crisis in Florida. The state’s resources include hotlines, government services, public or private rehabs, and a variety of support groups.
Get Narcan and Emergency Help in Florida
Naloxone (Narcan) is an easy-to-administer, life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdose. It is currently available at many Florida pharmacies and other locations without a prescription.7, 8 If you, a family member, or someone you live with takes opioids as a prescription or uses painkillers or heroin, please consider obtaining naloxone and learning how to administer it in case of emergency. It is much easier to get now than it used to be. We’ll show you how to find it.
Cost is a common barrier that often prevents people from getting the help they need. Learn more about how to use insurance to pay for rehab and other potential payment options.
Does Health Insurance Cover Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Florida?
Yes. In fact, due to federal mandates, most insurers are required to provide coverage for mental health and substance use treatment. Parity laws stipulate that the coverage provided for these services must be equitable to the coverage of medical and surgical benefits in the same policy.9, 10
It’s important to find a treatment center that is within your insurance care network. These facilities contract directly with your insurer, resulting in lower out-of-pocket costs.11
Recovery First accepts many major insurers, including Cigna, Aetna and more. Check if your insurance covers addiction treatment at Recovery First by completing our confidential .
How to Pay for Addiction Treatment Without Health Insurance
It can be difficult for someone to afford addiction treatment if they are uninsured, or their coverage still requires high out-of-pocket costs. Fortunately, there are still ways to pay for rehab without insurance. For example, some facilities may charge for services on a “sliding scale,” which offers discounted rates for people with low incomes. Some rehab centers may also offer scholarship programs or financing as well.
Patients that qualify may be able to get free or no-cost treatment at government-funded rehab centers. However, these facilities often have strict eligibility requirements and long wait lists.12 Certain low-income, disabled, pregnant, or elderly patients may qualify for Medicaid—a government-funded form of insurance coverage that allows year-round enrollment.13, 14
Find available treatment facilities nearby using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) locator tool.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
Find out within minutes if your addiction treatment is covered at Recovery First by filling out the HIPPA-compliant online form below. Doing so will require entering your:
- Email address.
- Name of your insurer.
- Insurance policy number.
Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in Florida.
Addiction is a common disease. In 2019, approximately 20,404,000 Americans 12 years and older suffered from substance use disorder (SUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD). Unfortunately, only 12.2% of people in this demographic get the treatment they need.20
Substance Abuse in FL
Between 2003 and 2010, Florida became notorious for having a serious problem with misuse of prescription opioids, though recent efforts to crack down on “pill mills” that over-prescribed these drugs for profit have had positive results.
Additionally, Florida’s location has made it a hotspot for drug trafficking, making illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin particularly accessible in the Sunshine State.21
Drug Trafficking Through Florida
Several regions in Florida are designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs) by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) including:
- South Florida. This HIDTA contains Broward, Monroe, and Miami-Dade counties and was designated in 1990. The Florida Keys and Florida coast seaports provide close access to the Caribbean, South America, and Central America. Marine smuggling operations and cruise ships porting in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale have been uncovered, and drugs have been seized all along the southern shores of Florida. In addition to drug trafficking, drug-related violent crime and money laundering plague the area.22, 23
- Central Florida. This HIDTA contains Seminole, Orange, Polk, Pinellas, Volusia, Osceola, and Hillsborough counties and was designated in 1998. Mexican and Cuban drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) are the primary movers of cocaine, meth, and marijuana in the region.24, 25
- Northern Florida. This HIDTA contains Baker, Clay, Columbia, Alachua, Flagler, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, Marian, and St. Johns counties and was established in 2001. Proximity to Atlanta and Georgia, as well as the eastern seaboard of the United States, make this region attractive to drug smugglers. Significant nightlife in Jacksonville, Gainesville, and St. Augustine may increase drug-using populations, and large homeless populations may also contribute to rampant drug abuse. Big and growing cities such as Ocala may also see large drug-using populations.26
How Common Is Addiction in FL?
Addiction is relatively common in Florida. For example:
- Between 2017 and 2019, 6.3% of residents 12 or older struggled with SUD within the past year.27
- Approximately 490,000 residents 12 years old or older struggled with past-year addiction to illicit drugs.27
- 3,189 people died from an opioid-involved overdose in 2018.28
- 614 people died of an overdose involving alprazolam (Xanax) in 2019.29
There are many barriers that may prevent someone from getting treatment, such as cost, the complexities of using health insurance, and just not knowing where or how to get help.
Within the state of Florida, there are many different forms of substance abuse, addiction, and mental health treatment options that can be tailored to meet an individual’s specific requirements. Help is within reach. Please contact an admissions navigator at to learn more about treatment options or start treatment at Recovery First, American Addiction Centers’ Miami rehab facility in South Florida.
Getting Help for Substance Abuse
Rehab FAQs
Learn more about finding the right rehab for addiction and treatment programs at Recovery First: general questions, patient questions, and family questions.
Getting to Recovery First
Recovery First is a drug & alcohol treatment center in Hollywood, FL, a town between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. We offer medical detox, inpatient rehab, and other levels of care. Learn about admissions and how to get here.
Paying for Treatment
One of the first questions people often ask when considering rehab is, "What will it cost?" Starting recovery does not have to be expensive. Learn more about payment options for rehab and how medical coverage can help cover costs.
