| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Meridian Behavioral Healthcare Inc Addictions Outpatient and Residential | 4400 SW 13th Street Gainesville, FL 32608 | (352) 374-5600x8230 |
| North Florida/South Georgia VA Health System | 1601 SW Archer Road Unit 116-A1 SATT Gainesville, FL 32608 | (352) 374-6089 |
| University of Florida Florida Recovery Center | 3850 NW 83rd Street #201 Gainesville, FL 32606 | (352) 264-4357 |
| University of Florida Springhill Health Center | 8491 NW 39th Ave Gainesville, FL 32606 | (352) 265-4357 |
Rules and regulations: Alachua adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Florida Department of Children and Families.
Certification procedures involve inspections, staff credentials review, and security and storage protocols. Clinics must renew licenses annually.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with methadone helps individuals recover from opioid addiction. It reduces withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. MAT is proven to decrease fatal overdoses and infectious disease transmission.
Clinics provide daily supervised methadone doses and counseling. The goal is to help patients gain stability so they can function normally. Patients must comply with strict program rules.
Insurance Coverage
Alachua has one free methadone clinic serving uninsured, low-income patients. This clinic relies on state grants and donations.
Public insurance like Medicaid covers methadone treatment at certified OTP clinics in Florida without copays or prior authorization. Methadone and associated services are considered essential benefits.
Most private insurers also cover treatment but may impose some restrictions like prior authorization or annual limits. Uninsured patients pay around $80-150 weekly for treatment at private clinics.
Drug Use in Alachua
Opioid abuse has been declared a nationwide public health emergency. In Alachua County, overdose deaths increased nearly 30% from 2019-2021 according to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, totaling over 100 deaths last year. Commonly abused substances locally are heroin, fentanyl, prescription opioids (OxyContin, Vicodin), and cocaine.
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient facilities provide 24/7 medical care and monitoring. Patients receive counseling, group therapy, medication management, and other services while staying onsite for typically 30 days or longer if medically necessary.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient programs provide counseling, therapy, and other services while allowing patients to live at home. They attend the facility up to 5 days a week for 2-4 hours per day. Outpatient treatment usually lasts at least 90 days.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 38% of Alachua County residents who need substance abuse treatment receive some level of care based on a recent state survey. However, many do not specify whether they attend inpatient or outpatient treatment.
Comparison of Treatment in Alachua County vs. Neighboring Major City
| Category | Alachua County | Major City |
| Number of Treatment Facilities | 12 | 23 |
| Inpatient Beds Available | 118 | 205 |
| Cost of 30-day Inpatient Treatment | $10,000 | $15,000 |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is an opioid agonist medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). As an agonist, it binds to opioid receptors, reducing cravings and withdrawal. It is typically dispensed daily in liquid form at opioid treatment programs (OTPs) under supervision. Societal perspectives on methadone vary – while it helps individuals struggling with addiction, diversion and misuse also occurs.
Methadone Distribution
Distribution is strictly regulated with several monitoring requirements:
- Urine testing: Patients must complete at least eight urine tests in the first treatment year.
- Take-home requirements: Patients can only take home one 24-hour Supply during the first 14 days. More take-home doses are permitted over time for patients meeting compliance standards.
- Monitoring: OTPs should have an interprofessional team overseeing dosing and care.
- Prescription monitoring: Clinicians review the prescription database before increasing doses due to overdose risks at high doses.
In Florida, methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance subject to regulations on prescribing and dispensing.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Studies show methadone reduces illicit opioid use, HIV spread, and criminal behavior when retention is adequate.
Evidence for Effectiveness
Research found participants on methadone had 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and were 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to non-medication options. Treatment retention is crucial for reducing mortality and improving employment.
Major Drawbacks
However, methadone risks include misuse, severe unmanaged withdrawal, QTc prolongation, overdose combined with other central nervous system depressants, and neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Comparison to Other Medications
Studies show methadone and buprenorphine have similar effectiveness for reducing illicit opioid use when properly managed.
Conclusion
In summary, methadone has proven benefits but also unique risks necessitating careful patient monitoring.
About Alachua
Alachua County is located in north-central Florida between the major cities of Jacksonville and Gainesville. It borders the states of Georgia to the north and Alabama to the west. The county seat and largest city is Gainesville. Alachua County covers 969 square miles consisting of extensive forests, wetlands, springs, and over 1,100 lakes dotted across lush rolling hills. Major infrastructure includes interstate highways, airports, the Port of Gainesville, and telecommunications networks.
Population Statistics
As of the 2020 census, the Alachua County population was 271,063.
Demographics:
Gender: 48% male, 52% female
Age brackets: 18% under 18 years, 72% between 18-65 years, 10% over 65 years
Top occupations:
- Education, healthcare and social assistance – 30%
- Retail trade – 12%
- Professional, scientific, management and administrative – 11%
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services – 10%
- Manufacturing – 10%
Racial demographics are: White 63%, Black/African American 20%, Asian 6%, Multiracial 4%, Other 4%, Native American 3%. The University of Florida and expanding biotech research and healthcare industries are major economic drivers.