| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC)/Central | 1000 SW 2nd Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 | (954) 765-4200 |
| Fort Lauderdale Hospital | 1601 East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 | (800) 585-7527 |
Rules and Regulations
Fort Lauderdale adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Certification Procedures
All clinics must be certified by SAMHSA and licensed by the state. Certification requirements include security measures, counseling services, urine drug screenings, and more. Clinics must renew licenses annually.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment has been shown to:
- Reduce illicit opioid use and overdose deaths
- Improve patient survival and retention in treatment
- Decrease criminal activity and arrests
- Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Methadone clinics provide medication-assisted treatment to those with opioid use disorder. Patients receive methadone doses daily under supervision of medical staff to prevent withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings without inducing euphoria. Clinics also provide counseling and case management services to support recovery.
Insurance Coverage
Many clinics accept Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Uninsured patients may qualify for state funding or clinics with sliding-scale fees based on income. Those without insurance can also apply for emergency treatment vouchers to cover costs for limited periods.
Drug Use in Fort Lauderdale
The opioid crisis has been declared a nationwide public health emergency. In Florida, over 5,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2020 alone. The most commonly used substances in Broward County are:
- Opioids – responsible for the majority of overdose deaths
- Cocaine
- Benzodiazepines
- Methamphetamine
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
- Patients reside at the facility 24/7 for detox and behavioral therapies
- Typical stays range from 28-90 days
- Services include medical monitoring, counseling, group therapy
Outpatient Treatment
- Patients undergo therapy sessions and take medication at the facility but do not stay overnight
- Sessions typically occur 1-5 days per week
- Located in hospitals, clinics or recovery centers
Comparison of Addiction Treatment in Fort Lauderdale vs. Miami
| City | Treatment Centers | Inpatient Beds | Cost per Month |
| Fort Lauderdale | 25 | 500 | $6,000 |
| Miami | 32 | 850 | $7,500 |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used to treat opioid use disorder and dependence. As medication-assisted treatment (MAT), methadone helps prevent opioid withdrawal and reduces drug cravings by activating opioid receptors in the brain similarly to other opioid drugs. However, it does not provide the associated euphoria or high of misused opioids. Methadone is taken orally once daily in tapering doses under medical supervision in what are known as opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
Societal perspectives on methadone treatment are mixed. While it is an evidence-based treatment, some view it as merely replacing one addiction with another. However, methadone enables patients to function normally, improve health, and reduce the harm of opioid addiction when taken as prescribed.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is highly regulated with several monitoring requirements:
- Urine testing: Patients must undergo at least eight random urine drug tests in the first year to detect any unsanctioned drug use.
- Take-home requirements: For the first 14 days, the take-home methadone supply is limited to a single 24-hour dose with onsite dosing required. After meeting certain criteria, take-home supplies can gradually increase up to 30 days.
- Monitoring: Methadone treatment programs require an interprofessional team including physicians, nurses, and behavioral health staff to coordinate care.
- Prescription drug monitoring: Clinicians should review their state’s prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data to carefully cross-reference methadone dosage for potentially dangerous drug interactions due to its narrow therapeutic index.
According to Florida’s PDMP, methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance in the state of Florida and Broward County, indicating an accepted medical use but also a high potential for abuse.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Studies show it is an extremely effective MAT medication for treating opioid use disorder. Evidence includes:
- 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests for patients on methadone versus control groups
- 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to non-medication treatments
- Retention in methadone treatment reduces overdose and disease transmission risks and increases employment opportunities
However, methadone does carry some risks:
- Potential for misuse/diversion for nonmedical opioid users
- Severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly without proper medical tapering
- Possible QTc prolongation or cardiac arrhythmias
- Respiratory depression or overdose death when combined with certain substances
Research shows methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective in reducing illicit opioid use.
In conclusion, methadone is beneficial but also requires careful risk management.
About Fort Lauderdale
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Fort Lauderdale is located in Broward County in southeastern Florida, United States. It borders the following states:
Capital and Largest City
The capital and largest city in Florida is Tallahassee.
Land Area
The land area of Fort Lauderdale is 36.31 square miles.
Infrastructure
Fort Lauderdale has a major international airport, deep seaport, extensive highway and rail networks, reliable power and utilities, and modern communication systems supporting business, shipping, and tourism industries.
Population Statistics
Total Population
The total population of Fort Lauderdale is 182,595 (2020 census).
Demographics
Gender
- Male: 50.5%
- Female: 49.5%
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 15.5%
- 18 to 64 years: 69.3%
- 65 years and over: 15.2%
Occupations
The top occupations in Fort Lauderdale are:
- Management, business, science, and arts: 50.8%
- Sales and office: 24.3%
- Service: 15.5%
- Production, transportation, and material moving: 9.5%
