Drug & Alcohol Treatment in Pensacola, Florida

Intervention and Treatment Services

Several programs and services in the Pensacola area try to steer people with addictions to treatment. Colleges can either treat students for mild mental health problems or refer them to behavioral health providers in the community, and prison-alternative programs help people accused of nonviolent drug offenses end the cycle of recidivism.

Connie Bookman is the CEO of Pathways for Change, a Pensacola treatment program for clients referred by the legal system. “If you have a drug habit and you don’t learn a new way of thinking and tools to be successful when you return, you will go back [to prison],” she told the Pensacola News Journal in 2015.

Drug Courts

The Escambia County Adult Drug Court in Pensacola and the Okaloosa County Adult Drug Court in Fort Walton Beach give nonviolent and repeat drug offenders a path away from recidivism by providing resources necessary for recovery. Drug court services typically include mandatory assessments, drug tests, therapy and community service.

Parent Drug Courts

The Parent Drug Court program in Escambia County is designed for parents accused of drug-related offenses. The court monitors the client’s progress and compliance with substance abuse treatment programs with the goal of maintaining family unity.

University of West Florida

The University of West Florida’s Counseling and Psychological Services provides free short-term counseling and therapy for students affected by substance abuse. It also refers students to long-term care when necessary. In a press release, UWF CAPS Director Dr. Rebecca Kennedy said, “The primary goal of counseling is to help students develop the personal awareness and skills necessary to overcome problems and to develop in ways that will allow them to take advantage of the educational opportunities at the university.”

Pensacola State College

Students and employees of Pensacola State College who have substance abuse issues can seek counseling and referral services through the school’s Health Clinic or Employee Assistance Program. The school can refer individuals who require long-term treatment to local drug rehab facilities.

Resources to Aid Your Recovery in Pensacola

Recovery doesn’t end after treatment, and several organizations and programs in the Pensacola area can help you live a happy and productive life in sobriety.

Sober Living Environments in Pensacola

Sober living environments are safe places to live that are free of temptations and triggers. They provide people in recovery with opportunities to support one another in maintaining sobriety. Sober living homes in Pensacola are available for men and women.

Vocational Training and Educational Resources

Pursuing an education, learning new skills and finding a job are key components of a life in recovery. You can further your education and work skills through a variety of Escambia County programs.

• George Stone Technical Center

  The George Stone Technical Center in Pensacola offers numerous work skills programs in the business, health, industrial and public service fields. The classes teach students technical, critical thinking, problem solving and general employability skills.

• Pensacola State Adult Education

  Pensacola State College has adult basic education, GED and ESOL programs to help individuals further their education. The programs help students prepare for the GED test, learn English, expand their resume or prepare to pursue a college degree.

• West Florida Public Libraries

  The West Florida Public Library system has five Pensacola locations. It also has one branch in Century, Florida, and one in Molino, Florida. The Molino Branch offers GED courses in partnership with the George Stone Technical Center, and the entire library system offers a Career Online High School program that allows adults ages 19 and older to pursue a high school diploma.

• Santa Rosa Adult School

  Santa Rosa Adult School has six locations in Milton, Navarre and Gulf Breeze. The school’s Adult Basic Education program teaches educational skills to adults at or below a ninth-grade level, and the GED Preparation class helps adults prepare to take the GED test.