Miami Dade

Miami Dade Treatment Options: AA Meetings, NA Meetings, Drug & Alcohol Rehab & Detox

Consistently ranking as one of the most desirable destinations in the United States, Miami is known for its pristine and picturesque beaches, vibrant Latin and Caribbean culture, and decadent nightlife. But beneath the warm, beautiful exterior of this city, substance abuse runs rampant in the country’s fourth-largest city. 

 

Prevalence of Drug Abuse in Miami Dade

Miami is a major drugs port and the entry point for many of the substances that make way their way into the country (more drugs are seized in the Port of Miami than at any other port in the country). South Florida is also the second-largest national producer of hydroponic marijuana (second only to California). As a result, drugs are plentiful and street prices tend to be lower than other metropolitan cities and creating circumstances rife for drug abuse and addiction.

Over the last three years, the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (an organization created in 1990 as a response to Miami’s severe drug problem), reports having seized approximately $713 million worth of illicit drugs including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, meth, and prescription painkillers. Cocaine is the most commonly smuggled drug in Miami, with marijuana and meth being the next most common (but only at a fraction of cocaine’s quantity). So far in 2021, law enforcement officials have seized:

• 6,571 pounds of cocaine
• 1,710 pounds of marijuana
• 106 pounds of methamphetamine 

According to the most recent data available from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these are the most commonly used drugs in Miami, Florida:

1. Cocaine
2. Heroin
3. Prescription opioids
4. Benzodiazepines
5. Methamphetamine
6. Cannabimimmetics (marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids)
7. Ecstacy

 

Miami Drug and Alcohol Addiction Statistics

Rates of drug use and substance use disorders are relatively close to fellow South Florida county districts Broward and Palm Beach, but the raw numbers are of afflicted individuals are much larger. At the time of the survey, Miami-Dade had a population of around 2.2 million and had nearly a million more residents than Palm Beach County and 800,000 more than BrowardCounty. 

 

Substance Use by Type

• 19% reported binge drinking alcohol in the past month (438,195 people)
• 5% reported using marijuana in the past month (119,502 people)
• 35 reported using any other illicit drug (59,927 people) 
• 3% reported nonmedical use of pain relievers (6 7,428 people)
• 2% reported using cocaine in the past year (35,486 people)

 

Substance Use Disorders & Treatment

• 6% reported a substance use disorder to either drugs or alcohol (141, 301 people)
• 5% specify an alcohol use disorder (114,530 people)
• 2% specify an illicit drug use disorder (44,000)
• The number of Miami Dade residents who have sought drug addiction treatment in Miami nearly 3X from 2012 to 2016, from 9,877 admissions to 26,713
• Alcohol addiction was the number one cause of admission into substance abuse treatment in 2015 and 2016
• The majority of those who were admitted to an addiction treatment facility were male across all drug types except prescription opioids.
• 66 and 65% of those in rehab for a heroin or prescription opioid addiction were 18-34 years old
• Marijuana is the only type of drug that had individuals under the age of 18 seeking rehab
• Opioids are the leading cause of drug-related deaths 

 

Finding a Rehab Center

South Florida is home to the rehab capital of the country and a haven for those looking to get sober.  There are 14,500 treatment facilities in the country, many nestled in beach-adjacent enclaves, only an hour’s drive for most Miami Dade residents. Although having close access to addiction treatment can make beginning recovery easier, that’s still only half of the battle.

Miami residents struggling with addiction must find a facility that offers an appropriate level of care with consideration to the substance they are addicted to and the severity of the addiction (and not every rehab center offers every level of care). Here’s a quick rundown of the various types of rehabilitation centers available:

 

Detox Programs

Medical detox is one of the first steps of addiction treatment. It involves cleansing the body and getting rid of all traces of toxins and metabolites. Those who are interested in addiction treatment should seek an effective medical detox program. The detox program will ease withdrawal symptoms and make it easier to transition into recovery.

There are different types of medications used in medical detox. Some of these medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain addictions. For example, methadone and Suboxone treat opioid addictions. Others treat certain symptoms. For example, doctors may prescribe patients sleeping pills if they are having difficulties sleeping.

 

Residential Treatment Programs

These programs offer the most intense level of care possible. Patients receive medical detox at the facility and around-the-clock medical supervision. Essentially, patients live at the facility. This type of treatment is reserved for those with a moderate to severe addiction. It’s also highly recommended for first-timers.

 

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

This is one step down from a residential treatment program. Patients receive treatment at the center for 6 to 8 hours a day. They are then allowed to return home. To qualify for this treatment option, patients must have a stable and safe home environment.

 

Outpatient Treatment Programs

There are different types of outpatient treatment programs. Intensive outpatient treatment programs require patients to commit at least 9 hours each week to therapy. Patients schedule doctor appointments and counseling sessions into their week. This type of treatment option is the most flexible.

Patients should also receive aftercare planning to help them maintain abstinence. Miami, Florida treatment centers offer varying levels of care. Knowing what type of treatment option will work best for you is crucial to your recovery. Get a professional assessment before you make a decision.

 

Other Alcohol and Drug Addiction Resources

Addiction Counselors in Miami, FL

When paired with behavioral therapy and medical detox, counseling can be a big component of a successful recovery. Counselors can teach recovering addicts practical and healthy coping mechanisms to avoid relapse, work through their own feelings of guilt, shame, or anger which are common or help repair relationships with others. If you’re currently seeking addiction treatment from an alcohol or drug detox and rehab center, you’ll probably be assigned a counselor. If you’re not currently seeking treatment, consider booking an appointment with a counselor near you. Keep in mind that effective counseling requires open communication. You need to feel comfortable with the counselor. This may mean that you’ll need to try out different specialists before finding the right person. Here are some options:

• Ray Estefania – Counselor, MS, LMHC, CAP, CIP, ICADC
  9350 SW 72 Street
  Suite 175
  Miami, Florida 33173
  (305) 834-4368
• Danielle Friedman – Counselor, LMHC, CRC
  7325 SW 63rd Ave
  Suite 101
  South Miami, Florida 33143
  (954) 637-1319
• Jim Millerick – Counselor, LMHC
  7600 SW 57 Av
  Suite 215
  Miami, Florida 33137
  (786) 565-6474

 

Alcoholics Anonymous Groups in Miami, Florida

There are plenty of places online where you can find the times and locations of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) support groups in Miami-Dade County. AA meetings are a fellowship. Both men and women alike share their personal experiences, stresses, strengths, and hopes with one another. They all have a common goal: to recover from alcohol addiction.
There are no membership requirements. Members can join and attend any group for free. The only thing that they should have is a goal and a desire to abstain from drinking. The primary purpose of the meetings is to provide support and help to recovering alcoholics. There are different types of meetings. Some meetings are for sharing personal experiences, whereas others are for discussing the steps of the program.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
10:00AM	Good Morning ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace	Good Morning ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace	Good Morning ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace	Good Morning ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace	Good Morning ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace		Grupo Central ➢ 9600 SW 8th Street #49
12:00PM	Brickell ➢ 150 SE 15th Road Cuento Contigo ➢ 1770 W Flagler Street	Brickell ➢ 150 SE 15th Road Cuento Contigo ➢ 1770 W Flagler Street	Brickell ➢ 150 SE 15th Road Cuento Contigo ➢ 1770 W Flagler Street	Brickell ➢ 150 SE 15th Road Cuento Contigo ➢ 1770 W Flagler Street	Brickell ➢ 150 SE 15th Road Cuento Contigo ➢ 1770 W Flagler Street	Cuento Contigo ➢ 1770 W Flagler Street	Cuento Contigo ➢ 1770 W Flagler Street
8:00PM	10 de Junio ➢ 2152 NW 36th Street Amistad ➢3040 NW 2nd Ave A	10 de Junio ➢ 2152 NW 36th Street Amistad ➢3040 NW 2nd Ave A	10 de Junio ➢ 2152 NW 36th Street Amistad ➢3040 NW 2nd Ave A	10 de Junio ➢ 2152 NW 36th Street Amistad ➢3040 NW 2nd Ave A	10 de Junio ➢ 2152 NW 36th Street Amistad ➢3040 NW 2nd Ave A	10 de Junio ➢ 2152 NW 36th Street Amistad ➢3040 NW 2nd Ave A	10 de Junio ➢ 2152 NW 36th Street Amistad ➢3040 NW 2nd Ave A

Since Miami, FL is a huge city, there are hundreds of meeting times and locations. Finding one that suits your schedule should not be too difficult. You can attend different meetings to find a group that you enjoy seeing. Look for people that resonate with you.

For optimal results, members should pick a meeting time and location and stick to it. It’s best to build rapport with just one group. This will help recovering addicts to open up with their experiences and stories. It’s also best to stick with one group in order to bond with other members. Other members act as mentors and are people that recovering alcoholics should call should they feel the need to drink. Members hold each other accountable for their actions.

Narcotics Anonymous Groups in Miami

Drug addicts will benefit from going to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting rather than an AA meeting. There are plenty of NA meetings hosted in Miami, Florida. Finding one that suits your schedule should be a piece of cake. Look for the following meetings.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
11:30 AM						On a New Trail ➢820 NW 28th Street, Miami, FL	Soothing Sundays ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace
7:00 PM		Pills Group ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace	Growth for Change ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace	Growth for Change ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace		NA in Little River ➢ 51 NE 82nd Terrace

If you decide to attend NA meetings, it’s best to continue to go to the same meeting again and again. This will help you bond with other members and also build a relationship with them. Studies show that this is important to an effective recovery.

Other Options to Consider in Miami, FL

Other than AA and NA meetings, there are many other options to choose from. There are science-based meetings, like with SMART Recovery meetings. These meetings don’t follow the same type of 12 step principle as AA or NA meetings. However, they can be equally as effective.
Family members and loved ones of drug addicts can also attend Al-Anon and Nar Anon meetings. These support groups help loved ones to band together. They get to share their personal experiences and air their grievances in a safe space. They also learn different tactics and techniques for dealing with recovering addicts. It’s crucial that they establish firm boundaries and do not become enablers.

 

South Florida Substance Abuse Treatment

Whether you choose to pursue your recovery at a Miami Dade addiction treatment center or travel outside of your hometown, Amethyst Recovery Center is here to help you find the information you need to get started. Give us a call for more information on recovery resources and treatment options in your area or at our very own Florida care facility.

We work with a variety of substance abuse and mental health co-occurring disorders. This includes prescription, alcohol, or drug abuse with other mental health-related duel-diagnosis treatment. We’re the drug rehab center that hundreds of people in Miami Beach and surrounding areas trust for recovery programs. We have a team of addiction behavioral health experts who are ready to help you with your drug and alcohol rehab.