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addiction, the various populations at risk for the disease, current statistics and trends, and
psychological disorders that often accompany addiction. You will also find information on spotting
the signs and symptoms of substance use and hotlines for immediate assistance.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the individual.
In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer information on
outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of care. In this section, you
will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and
therapy and payment and insurance options.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.
The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to
life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as
12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with
rewarding relationships and meaning.
Our community offers unique perspectives on lifelong recovery and substance use
prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active
recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our
community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
Sarasota County Jail is adding an opioid addiction treatment program after seeing promising results in two other Florida counties.
Orange and Duval County jails added the anti-addiction medication Vivitrol to counseling services earlier this year, and so far they’ve had promising results. Officials have cautioned that it’s too soon to draw long-term conclusions, but Duval County Department of Corrections Director Mike Bruno has indicated that he’s cautiously optimistic.
“They are really becoming their old selves again, and their personality is opening back up,” Bruno told the St. Augustine Record. “When they had the addiction, and that’s all that they had was that craving to satisfy that addiction, every bit of who they were was being shut down. Now the clients are rediscovering themselves as they crest that hill and break that cycle.”
Jacksonville Sheriff Office’s Department of Corrections is partnered with River Region Human Services, a local drug rehab facility, to provide Vivitrol to inmates who are referred by judges, prosecutors, public defenders or medical personnel.
Kristin Barrett, River Region’s director of nursing, told the St. Augustine Record that the program is decreasing distractions and cravings and helping inmates focus on recovery.
Vivitrol is an injectable form of naltrexone, a drug that blocks the pleasurable side effects and cravings caused by opioids such as prescription painkillers or heroin. It isn’t addictive, and it’s administered once per month.
Medication-assisted treatments like naltrexone do not cure addiction, but they have proven to improve treatment outcomes for patients who also attend counseling and therapy.
The Sarasota County’s Sherriff’s Office has partnered with the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida’s drug court, Armor Correctional Health Services and Centerstone, a drug rehab facility in Bradenton, Florida.
The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, a nonprofit composed of prevention organizations and treatment providers, is funding the new program.
“This is just another step we’re taking locally to combat the national issue of opiate addiction,” Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight told the Sarasota Patch. “We are not so naive as to believe that arresting people will solve this problem.”
The drug court will refer non-violent offenders to the program. Armor and Centerstone will oversee the administration of Vivitrol, and Centerstone is offering outpatient services for inmates who are released from the program.
“The sheriff’s office is a full-service agency which means not only working to eliminate the influx of heroin into our community, but also providing services and resources to the people who need it most,” Knight said.
The goal of each treatment program is to end the cycle of recidivism, addiction and relapse among nonviolent offenders.
“The repeat offenders are the people who go out and they don’t receive the treatment or the care that they need,” Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Major Jeff Bell told Tampa Bay’s 10 News. “They’re much more susceptible to repeat their behavior, and this offers the opportunity to break that cycle.”
Florida Judicial System Continues Proactive Approach
The first drug court in the United States was developed in Miami-Dade County in 1989, according to the Florida court system’s website. The rest of the country followed Florida’s lead. Today, there are more than 2,700 drug courts across the country, including 94 in Florida.
Studies continue to show drug courts produce positive outcomes such as:
Reduced crime
Improved treatment outcomes
Better cost effectiveness
A 2009 study conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability found adults sentenced to a Florida drug court programs, which include court-ordered rehab, were 80 percent less likely to eventually end up in prison than offenders sentenced to drug-related probation.
Another OPPAGA analysis of Florida drug courts published in 2014 found:
They saved $7.6 million in prison-related costs over a 42 month period.
They saved $500,000 annually in reduced recidivism.
The completion rate was 53 percent.
Drug program graduates had fewer felony convictions.
Drug program graduates had few prison sentences.
In 2015, there were more than 7,300 admissions into Florida drug courts. The courts led to the reunification of 205 children with their families and the birth of 112 drug-free babies to female drug court participants.
Adding medication-assisted treatments such as Vivitrol is one more step toward a treatment over incarceration approach by the state of Florida.
Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
Chris Elkins worked as a journalist for three years and was published by multiple newspapers and online publications. Since 2015, he’s written about health-related topics, interviewed addiction experts and authored stories of recovery. Chris has a master’s degree in strategic communication and a graduate certificate in health communication.
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. (2014, January). Expansion Drug Courts Can Produce Positive Outcomes Through Prison Diversion and Reduced Recidivism. Retrieved from http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/1402rpt.pdf
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