Substance use and overdoses in Pinellas County, (1) the State of Florida, and the country as a whole have risen dramatically since the turn of the century. Powerful and potentially lethal synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, have become increasingly attainable and, as a result, have fueled this epidemic. (2)
Guardian Recovery Network offers evidence-based treatment designed to address the unique needs of each individual. We provide comprehensive, personalized programs and multiple levels of care, including detox, inpatient and outpatient treatment, and aftercare planning. If you are struggling to overcome drug or alcohol dependence, contact us today. Learn how we can help you achieve abstinence, prevent relapse, and experience long-lasting sobriety and wellness.
Safety Harbor & Pinellas County Drug & Alcohol Statistics
The Pinellas County Opioid Task Force reported that in 2020, lethal drug overdoses increased by 35%. (3) These deaths have increased every year since 2018. Pinellas County is one of the top five counties for fentanyl-related deaths (418), representing a rate of 42 deaths per 100,000 population. In 2021, there were 618 drug overdose-related fatalities in the county, and overall, about 78% (484) were related to various opioids.
Other Pinellas County Statistics Include:
- Nearly 21% of adults were heavy or binge drinkers in the county compared to 17.5% in Florida. (4)
- There were 961 motor vehicle accidents related to alcohol.
- Of the 277 drug-related accidental overdoses, 38% involved prescription drugs.
- Around 56% of high school students and 31% of middle school students used illicit drugs or alcohol.
- Approximately 25% of teens aged 15-17 had ridden in a vehicle driven by a person who had used marijuana.
Substance & Alcohol Use in the Tampa Area & the State of Florida
As a part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro statistical area (MSA) Safety Harbor has also struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. (5) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that from 2005-2010, 188,000 individuals (8%) aged 12 and older in the MSA were diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD). (6)
Additionally, in the MSA, an annual average of 326,000 (13.9%) in the population engaged in past-year illicit drug use. Approximately 23% of persons aged 12 or older participated in past-month binge alcohol use, similar to the Pinellas County rate.
According to the most recent data from CDC, Florida’s lethal overdose rate is 35 per 100,000 annually, for a total of 7,231 deaths. (7) This is 23% greater than the 28.3 per 100,000 reported in the United States in 2020.
Florida Alcohol Misuse Statistics Include:
- In Florida, an average of 10,655 deaths annually are attributable to heavy alcohol use. (8)
- The 5-year average yearly rate of excessive alcohol fatalities per capita increased by approximately 54.0% from 2015-2019.
- Florida averages one death from excessive alcohol use for every 2,021 persons aged 18 and older, or more than six deaths for every 10,000 adults.
- Nearly 61% of heavy alcohol use fatalities result from chronic conditions, such as alcohol use disorder.
Why trust Guardian Recovery – Tampa Addiction Center for your addiction treatment?
Drug & Alcohol Treatment in Safety Harbor, Florida
There is only one substance misuse treatment center within five miles of Safety Harbor and five within a ten-mile radius. (9) The city has a population of 16,987, meaning that one center is available for roughly every 3,400 people within ten miles. The State of Florida reports having 21.78 million residents and 584 treatment centers. This means there is only one center for every 37,294 persons statewide. Both of these represent a relatively low amount of available beds for clients compared to the populations of these areas.
Drug & Alcohol Rehab Centers in Safety Harbor, Florida
If you’re looking for a drug and alcohol treatment center near Safety Harbor, contact the facility to ensure they have the following features:
- Licensed and accredited in the State of Florida.
- Staffed with licensed medical providers, addiction specialists, and experienced support personnel.
- Equipped to address the unique needs of individuals, such as co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Use of evidence-based therapies and treatment modalities.
- Multiple levels of care, from intensive inpatient to flexible standard outpatient treatment.
- A streamlined process for immediate admission following completion of medical detox.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help with withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Detox & Rehab Options in Safety Harbor, Florida
When looking for a drug and alcohol rehab that can address the needs of each individual, it is crucial to locate a facility that offers a full continuum of care, including the following programs and services:
Intervention
An intervention is a meeting staged by family members and friends of a loved one struggling with addiction. It is typically led by a therapist or interventionist who can guide the individuals through the process and ensure the conversation is productive and not hostile. The goal is to convince the loved one to get treatment as soon as possible.
Medical Detox
Medically supervised alcohol and drug detox is usually the first step in recovery. Withdrawal is uncomfortable and, in some cases, can be severe or life-threatening. For this reason, it’s essential to have expert clinical care to ensure the process is safe and that health providers are prepared to address symptoms and complications using MAT.
Residential & Inpatient Treatment
Residential/inpatient treatment is the most intensive level of care that typically follows medical detox. Patients stay at a facility with other peers around the clock for the duration of their program. During this time, they are provided with a full schedule of therapeutic methods, such as behavioral therapy, counseling, support groups, and holistic activities.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
Partial Hospitalization is commonly the next stage in treatment after an individual has completed detox and an inpatient stay. A person in PHP engages in 5-6 days of scheduled therapies and activities but returns to a private residence at night. Therapeutic services and activities are similar to those provided in residential treatment.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) & Standard Outpatient (OP)
Intensive outpatient therapy typically meets 3-5 hours a day, 3-5 days per week. IOP represents another reduction in treatment intensity and step-down level of care. They enable patients to resume their everyday lives in ways that residential treatment programs do not while they can still participate in individual and group therapy.
Outpatient therapy consists of intermittent sessions, occurring once to twice a week and as infrequently as one day a week or a month. This is the lowest level of intensity and provides ongoing guidance and help in finding external therapeutic and supportive resources. One of the main goals is to ensure individuals have the tools they need to stay sober and accountable for their sobriety.
MAT & Suboxone
Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a method intended to relieve withdrawal symptoms and assist individuals during detox. Suboxone, methadone, and naltrexone are FDA-approved for treating opioid dependence to help mitigate the uncomfortable effects encountered during withdrawal. Naltrexone can also be used for alcohol dependence in addition to acamprosate and disulfiram.
Substance Use Disorder Program Costs in Safety Harbor, Florida
There are a few different ways of funding addiction treatment, and depending on an individual’s particular situation, one of the following options may be appropriate:
Privately Funded
Privately funded rehabs have several benefits, including more comprehensive and personalized approaches to treatment. In addition, their programs typically have more options in terms of therapies, services, and activities. Other advantages include a lower patient-to-staff ratio and little or no waiting time for admission into a program.
Public & State Funded
Public and state-funded rehabs are often most advantageous for individuals without insurance or with limited resources to cover the cost of treatment. However, these facilities also have downsides, including a higher patient-to-staff ratio and an extended waiting period for admission. Treatment approaches also are typically standardized for all instead of personalized for individual needs.
Insurance Based
Most addiction recovery centers accept major and regional insurance carriers. The main issues often revolve around whether the facility is in-network and what services individual policies cover. You will need to contact the center(s) you are considering and determine if your insurance coverage matches your treatment needs.
Medicaid & Medicare
Medicaid is a government program that provides assistance to individuals who need help paying for healthcare or addiction treatment costs due to having limited financial resources. Medicare is similar to Medicaid, except it is only available to those 65 and older or with certain qualifying conditions.
Safety Harbor, FL Addiction Recovery Resources
Support groups for individuals with drug and alcohol dependence provide a meeting place to get support from peers who share similar experiences. The most common are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and SMART Recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings
A list of AA meetings near Safety Harbor, Florida, can be found HERE.
Examples of consistently held, in-person AA meetings in Safety Harbor, Florida:
First Presbyterian Church
255 5th Ave S, Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Tuesday-Saturday at 5:30 PM
Saturdays at 9:00 AM
Sundays at 5:00 PM
Sylvan Abbey United Methodist Church
2817 Sunset Point Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759
Saturdays at 10:30 AM
Mondays and Fridays at 12:00 PM
Community United Methodist Church
207 Buckingham Ave E, Oldsmar, FL 34677
Monday-Thursday at 9:00 AM
Tuesday at 6:45 PM
Thursday at 7:00 AM
Saturday at 8:00 PM
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings
A list of NA meetings in Safety Harbor, Florida, can be found HERE.
Examples of consistently held, in-person NA meetings in and near Safety Harbor, Florida:
Veterans Memorial Marina Park
110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Thursdays at 6:30 PM
First Presbyterian Church
255 5th Ave S, Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Mondays at 7:30 PM
Sylvan Abbey United Methodist Church
2817 Sunset Point Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759
Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
SMART Recovery Meetings
A list of SMART Recovery meetings near Safety Harbor, Florida, can be found HERE.
Examples of consistently held, in-person SMART Recovery meetings nearest to Safety Harbor, Florida:
Mental Health Community Centers
240B South Tuttle Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237
Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
LifeWorks Substance Abuse Services
4678 Tamiami Trail #105, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Thursdays at 5:30 PM
Community Health Centers
7912 Forest City Rd #101, Orlando, FL 32810
Sundays at 10:00 AM
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 Safety Harbor, Florida 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 Safety Harbor, Florida 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 Safety Harbor, 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.
