Substance misuse in Florida, along with the rest of the United States, has increased dramatically in recent years. The availability of synthetic opioids has largely fueled this trend, and the overdose rate is higher than ever. (1) In addition, the situation has worsened due to the isolation, depression, and anxiety many people experienced during the pandemic. The use of alcohol and other prescription and illicit drugs has also been rising.
As a result of the increasing need for addiction treatment and mental health care, Guardian Recovery was established to provide effective treatment and a safe haven for those motivated to change their lives and break free from the burdens of addiction. At Guardian Recovery Network, we believe everyone can overcome addiction when they receive compassionate care and treatment customized to their needs and goals.
We offer a wide range of evidence-based programs, levels of care, and therapeutic approaches for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. We know the first step in recovery is often the most difficult, so we offer a streamlined admission process designed to make your experience less challenging. When you are ready to begin your recovery journey, we’re here to help you reclaim your life so you can experience the health and well-being you deserve.
Substance & Alcohol Use in Clearwater, Florida
In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area, 188,000 individuals (8%) aged 12 or older were classified as having a past-year substance use disorder. Also, a yearly average of 326,000 people aged 12 or older reported past-year illegal drug use, representing nearly 14% of the metro area population.
In addition, the rate of non-medical misuse of prescription painkillers was 5%. Nearly one-quarter (23%) of people age 12 or older engaged in past-month binge drinking, defined as 4-5 alcoholic beverages on one occasion for women and men, respectively. (2) These rates were similar to those in the State of Florida and the entire United States.
Substance Use or Mental Disorders
Among adults age 18 or older in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area, approximately 163,000 (8% of the population) experienced a past-year major depressive episode. (3) This rate was similar to those of Florida and the rest of the country.
Why trust Guardian Recovery – Tampa Addiction Center for your addiction treatment?
Drug & Alcohol Treatment in Clearwater, Florida
The City of Clearwater has four drug and alcohol treatment centers (4) and an adult population of 94,070 (5), suggesting only one center is available for every 23,500 adults.
Choosing a Drug & Alcohol Rehab Center in Clearwater
Knowing what to look for in a treatment center is vital if you are seeking professional help for yourself or a loved one. Any reputable facility will be upfront about the services they provide, their cost, and what insurance and private pay options are available.
Essential Qualities in a Treatment Center Include:
- Licensed and accredited by the State of Florida.
- Customized treatment plans and evidence-based therapies and services.
- A comprehensive approach to drug and alcohol misuse and comorbid medical and emotional health issues.
- Staff that includes licensed therapists, medical and mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and other experienced, supportive personnel.
- Integrated dual-diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders.
Questions to ask when contacting a treatment center include:
What levels of care (e.g., detox, residential, outpatient, aftercare, etc.) is the center licensed to provide?
What forms of treatment (e.g., behavioral therapy, family counseling, group support, etc.) does the center offer?
Detox & Rehab Options Clearwater FL
There are several detox and treatment programs in Clearwater, which feature a variety of services and levels of care, including the following:
Intervention
An intervention is a structured conversation supervised by an intervention specialist between loved ones and individuals struggling with a substance use disorder.
The goal is to persuade the person to seek intensive treatment in an addiction recovery facility.
Detox
Detox is always the first step in overcoming drug or alcohol dependence. Medical detox involves clearing the system of addictive substances in a clinical environment. Individuals are monitored by a health professional who can administer various medications to decrease cravings, improve mood, and relieve withdrawal symptoms.
Residential/Inpatient
Residential/inpatient rehab provides intensive addiction treatment while individuals stay at a center 24/7 in a comfortable, intimate environment. These programs typically include medical detox, clinical monitoring, a variety of therapeutic methods, and step-down levels of care.
Outpatient, Intensive Outpatient, & Partial Hospitalization Programs
In outpatient treatment, like residential treatment, you still benefit from psychiatric and medical care, except on a scheduled basis instead of 24/7. One of these programs can be a good option for those who don’t require intensive, round-the-clock monitoring and believe they can maintain relative stability during recovery.
For example, partial hospitalization includes scheduled daily medical monitoring but does not require overnight stays. They also offer greater flexibility for those motivated to overcome addiction who have already graduated from a more rigorous level of care or need to attend to family and work obligations.
MAT & Suboxone
People dependent on drugs or alcohol often benefit from certain medications combined with individual therapy and other treatment regimens. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can help reduce cravings and improve mood in many cases and is commonly used for opioid dependence. Medications used in MAT include suboxone/buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone. Naltrexone can also be used for alcohol use disorder, along with acamprosate and disulfiram.
Substance Use Disorder Program Costs in Clearwater, Florida
Some drug and alcohol recovery centers are privately owned, while others are public and government-funded. Each option has pros and cons, and whether public or private will be best for you depends on your individual circumstances.
Public treatment centers are important because they provide treatment services and resources for those who cannot afford them otherwise or are underinsured.
However, because these facilities are low-cost or no-cost, beds are usually in high demand, and those seeking help may have to wait for treatment. They also tend to have a better patient-to-staff ratio than public centers.
Private centers cost more for services but also accept many major insurance policies. Treatment not covered by insurance may result in out-of-pocket expenses, but this is often well worth it for having access to a more comfortable environment and comprehensive, customized treatment.
How Insurance Can Help
If you have private insurance, call the treatment center(s) you are considering for a health benefits check to ensure they accept your provider. You may also need to contact your provider to determine what benefits your plan will cover.
In addition to private insurance, many treatment centers accept Medicaid and Medicare. These government programs pay for certain medical and mental health care services for those who cannot afford private insurance, have disabilities, or are over age 65. Again, make sure a treatment center accepts Medicaid/Medicare while you are in the process of seeking help.
Clearwater, FL Addiction Recovery Resources
Addiction support groups provide a place for individuals with the desire to recover from addiction to receive peer support and encourage accountability. Among the most common of these are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and SmartRecovery.
AA Meetings in Clearwater, Florida
A list of AA meetings in Clearwater can be found HERE. (6)
Examples of consistently held, in-person AA meetings in Clearwater, Florida:
Attitude Adjustment
Grace Community Church
1812 N Highland Ave, Clearwater
Feelings Group
The Serenity Club
631 Turner St, Clearwater
Clearwater 301 Group
301 Group
1614 N Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings
A list of NA meetings in Clearwater can be found HERE. (7)
Examples of consistently held, in-person NA meetings in and near Clearwater, Florida:
NA Discussion/Participation
Serenity Club
631 Turner Street, Clearwater
NA Discussion/Participation
The Warehouse Club
2024 Main Street, Dunedin
NA Discussion/Participation
Church of the Good Shepherd
639 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin
Smart Recovery Meetings
A list of Smart Recovery meetings near Clearwater, Florida, can be found HERE. (8)
Examples of consistently held, in-person Smart Recovery meetings nearest to Clearwater, Florida:
4-Point/Standard
Mental Health Community Center
240B South Tuttle Ave, Sarasota
4-Point/Standard
LifeWorks Substance Abuse Services
4678 Tamiami Trail #105, Port Charlotte
Commonly Asked Questions
We offer programs lengths individualized for each client. Generally detox is anywhere from 3-7 days. These are estimates and are adjusted to meet the needs of the individual client.
Yes! We work with most major insurance providers. We offer free no-obligation insurance benefit checks for those who are interested in our program. Our admissions team will speak with your insurer and get a detailed verification of your insurance benefits and share those details with you. Unfortunately Medicaid and Medicare do not cover our facility.
Absolutely. We understand that addiction affects the entire family system and encourage families to participate in their loved one’s treatment. To help families recover we also offer intervention services, case management, and family workshops.
Yes. We believe in complete and total confidentiality and privacy for all of our clients. We take extra measures to make sure we go above and beyond HIPAA and health privacy standards. If you are concerned about specific privacy requirements please feel free to reach out and we can answer your questions.
While we strongly discourage leaving before treatment completion, we are not a lockdown facility. Clients are in our program voluntarily and may leave when they want.
Clients who need to take off work to attend treatment may be eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA ensures that you will not be terminated while taking a leave of absence from work to attend treatment. Our admissions and case management staff can help with setting up any FMLA paperwork. For clients who are self employed, we do offer an executive program that allows for cellphone and laptop access in certain cases during business hours.
Contact Us Today to Begin
Finding an addiction treatment program in Clearwater, FL is a straightforward process when you know what to look for. Once you have determined which level of care is right for you, we recommend reaching out to an experienced Treatment Advisor who can guide you through the admissions process. At Guardian Recovery we have a team of experienced Treatment Advisors standing by to answer any additional questions you have and help you get started on the road to recovery as quickly as possible. As soon as you contact us, you will undergo a brief pre-assessment over the phone. The pre-assessment consists of a series of questions geared towards finding a treatment program that meets all of your unique clinical needs. We offer a free, no obligation health insurance benefit check to those who are insured through a major regional or national provider. If you are currently uninsured, we will help you determine which costs will need to be covered out-of-pocket. Finally, we help arrange local ground transportation to our Clearwater, FL detox center, or help set you up with an alternative level of care. To learn more or to begin your personal journey of addiction recovery in Clearwater, contact us today.
Reviewed for accuracy by:
Travis Atchison
LCSW, MCAP
Travis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Addiction Professional. He has worked in various community-based settings, where he served families and couples, addressed issues related to homelessness and crisis and worked in a substance abuse setting.
