Alcohol & Drug Rehab in Jacksonville, Florida

Drug Trends in Jacksonville

Jacksonville has many rehabilitation centers that can provide the care you need as you transition to a life free from drugs and alcohol. The city also hosts numerous Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings that provide a platform to share your experiences and meet people in similar situations. Heroin is an undeniable problem in the area. In a 2016 interview with News4Jax.com, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams reported an increase in heroin arrests and overdose deaths. From 2014 to 2015, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office recorded a 265 percent increase in heroin-related deaths.

Heroin-Related Deaths and Arrests in Duval County

Year	Heroin-related deaths	Heroin-related Arrests
2013	15	56
2014	17	77
2015	45	117

Source: News4Jax.com

Source: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Offfice

Williams attributed the rise in heroin consumption to the closure of several pill mills in the Jacksonville area. “We want to make everyone aware, with the closure of the pill mills, you usually have a group of people, a population addicted to opiate-based drugs,” he said. When the supply of drugs from pill mills is cut off, people addicted to prescription drugs often turn to heroin because of its cheap cost and availability. In September 2015, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission released a report detailing 2014 drug trends in Florida. That year, prescription drugs were responsible for the majority of drug-related deaths in Jacksonville’s medical examiner district, which includes Duval, Clay and Nassau counties.

Drug-Related Deaths in Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties, 2014

Source: Florida Medical Examiner Commission’s 2014 Annual Report

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, street gangs distribute drugs such as cocaine and marijuana in Jacksonville. Because of the city’s ideal location and numerous transport options, Jacksonville has proven to be central to drug trafficking on the East coast.

Teen Drug Trends

A News4Jax.com article, published in July 2015, reported that teenage drug use was more prevalent in the Jacksonville area than in other parts of Florida. Experts said substance abuse typically spikes in the summer when teens have more time. About three out of 10 high school students in Duval County admitted to being current alcohol consumers in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2015 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey also disclosed that 40.5 percent of Duval County high school students obtained the alcohol they drank from another person.

Drug-Related Deaths in Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties, 2014

Substance	Percent of Students Who Tried the Drug at Least Once
Inhalants	12.7
Synthetic Marijuana	9.9
Cocaine	8.5
Ecstasy	8.4
Methamphetamine	7.5
Heroin	6.3

Source: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System

Marijuana is the second most popular substance in Duval County high schools, and 11.5 percent of students admitted to consuming the drug before the age of 13. According to the CDC survey, 29 percent of high school students in Duval County acquired illegal drugs on school property. “It was incredibly easy. You would just have to ask someone in the hallways or send them a text. Or a lot of the times someone’s older sibling or someone’s older boyfriend or girlfriend would be able to get it for you,” Elizabeth, a recovering drug addict, told News4Jax.com.

Law Enforcement Initiatives in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is one of the nation’s main ports of entry for travelers, mail and cargo, which makes the city vulnerable to drug trafficking. With the assistance of local and federal law enforcement agencies, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office strives to dismantle drug operations and keep drugs out of the city.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office implemented the Narcotics Unit to pinpoint and eliminate illegal drug activities around the city of Jacksonville. The Narcotics Unit consists of four components that focus on driving opioids outside of the area.

Tactical Narcotics Squads

Sergeants and detectives in the Narcotics Unit’s four Tactical Narcotics Squads investigate citizen complaints and track down local low-level drug dealers and buyers. Operations the squads perform include undercover buys, search warrants, investigative contacts, interdictions and reverse drug sales. The goal of this operation is to remove drug dealers and buyers from the streets Jacksonville.

Mid Level Narcotics Squad

The Mid Level Narcotics Squad is responsible for targeting mid-level drug dealers or organizations that require investigations that are too involved for Tactical Narcotics Squad operations and too brief for other units. The Mid Level Narcotics Squad also works with the Aggravated Battery Unit because many narcotic suspects are involved in violent crimes.

Major Case Narcotics Squad

The Major Case Narcotics Squad is responsible for drug-related cases that involve the upper levels of illegal drug operations or require lengthy investigations. This squad comprises detectives who recognize, investigate and disassemble high-level drug trafficking organizations in the Jacksonville area.

The North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)

Funded by the federal government, the North Florida HIDTA equips state and local law enforcement agencies to reduce or eradicate drug trafficking incidences in the North Florida area. The HIDTA program promotes information sharing and cooperation between agencies and organizations. Some agencies assigned to the NFHIDTA include the Currency/Narcotics Transportation Interdiction Squad, the Violent Crimes/Narcotic Task Force and the Prescription and Designer Drug Squad.

Operation Eastbound and Down

In September 2015, News4Jax.com reported that Operation Eastbound and Down, an initiative of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, dismantled two prominent drug-trafficking organizations after nine months of comprehensive undercover work. The sheriff’s office worked with the FBI, the State Attorney’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol and sheriff’s offices in Texas and Georgia. “These two organizations were responsible for bringing potentially 100 kilos or more of cocaine into this city a year,” Sheriff Mike Williams said. Williams also added that his department is dedicated to making Jacksonville one of the hardest cities in the nation to deal drugs in.

Employment Programs

People in recovery often struggle with finding jobs because of time spent in drug or alcohol rehabilitation. Jacksonville has vocational programs that are dedicated to helping individuals in recovery learn the life and professional skills needed to acquire a job.

Operation New Hope

Operation New Hope’s Ready4Work program eases ex-offenders’ reintegration to society by helping them find jobs in the Jacksonville area. The faith-based nonprofit’s four-prong approach includes case management, life coaching, job training and job placement assistance. It aims to motivate people to become productive, responsible contributors to their community. Candidates for the program are required to undergo a complete background check and must be ex-offenders who did not commit violent or sexual crimes. Once accepted, clients are regularly screened for illegal drug use. Clients attend a comprehensive training course spanning four to six weeks that covers life and employment skills. The team assists people with preparing for interviews and works with individuals to find strengths that can be used secure a job.

Sober Living Homes

Recovering from substance abuse requires a peaceful environment where people can avoid drug and alcohol triggers. Sober living homes offer the substance-free environment a person needs to remain abstinent. Sober living homes in the Jacksonville area typically ask residents to have a few days of sobriety before moving in and to follow house rules covering drug testing, chores, curfew and support-group attendance. Many host recovery-based activities every month, help residents find work and provide the practical tools needed to reintegrate into the community. Some will not admit people with violent charges or current narcotics prescriptions.