Delray Beach is the fourth most populous city in Palm Beach County, after West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach.
In the mid-2000s, the city became an addiction recovery hub, offering a supportive environment for people working to rebuild their lives.
At the same time, however, an undercurrent of so-called “pill mills” fueled a growing crisis. By 2017, Palm Beach County had become the epicenter of Florida’s overdose epidemic.
Meaningful progress has been made since. Overdose fatalities have declined, and access to quality care has improved.
The county continues to strengthen its recovery program. In 2024, the Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Plan was introduced to promote resilience and ensure a more compassionate system of care.
With this backdrop, let’s take a closer look at alcohol & drug rehab in Delray Beach and the treatment options available today.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment in Delray Beach, FL
Drug or alcohol addiction is a complex disorder, and no two people experience it the same way. That’s why effective care focuses on individualized treatment tailored to each person’s unique needs and circumstances.
Here are the treatment services available at a typical alcohol and drug rehab center in South Florida:
Medical Detox
Withdrawal can be uncomfortable, dangerous, and sometimes life-threatening. Symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Anxiety, restlessness, or irritability
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sweating or shaking
- Body aches and pains
- Difficulty sleeping
- Intense cravings
- Seizures and hallucinations
- Psychosis
- Delirium tremens (the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal, potentially fatal)
Substance abuse treatment often starts with detoxification to manage these risks. With the help of a dedicated healthcare team, this step rids the body of addictive substances so you can heal properly and continue further treatment.
Alcohol detox is no different than drug detox. The goal is the same: help you go through the withdrawal process safely.
For the duration of the treatment, you’ll be cared for 24/7 by a dedicated healthcare team. They’ll monitor your condition and make you as comfortable as possible.
Can you quit cold turkey and detox on your own?
Absolutely not! Medical detox may involve medicines to relieve your symptoms, reduce your cravings, and stabilize your body. For instance, methadone, naltrexone, or buprenorphine are commonly given to ease opioid withdrawal.
Inpatient/Residential Treatment
For many people in crisis with drugs or alcohol, recovery is easier when done in a safe, structured environment. That’s exactly what inpatient or residential treatment provides. Here, patients live at an addiction treatment center full-time.
Anyone with an alcohol or drug abuse problem can check in at a recovery facility. The best candidates for residential treatment, though, are:
- People with severe substance use disorder
- Young adults needing structure
- Those who don’t have a supportive environment at home
A typical residential program is a combination of the following:
- Individualized treatment plans
- Medication management
- Behavioral health therapy for co-occurring disorders
- Group counseling and peer support
- Wellness activities such as yoga, mindfulness, and fitness
Outpatient Treatment
Many people still have to work, study, or care for their families. That doesn’t mean they have to go without support.
Fortunately, it’s still possible to get professional help with all your responsibilities. That’s the kind of flexibility outpatient care gives. You can live at home, receive treatment, and apply what you learn in therapy in real life.
Your options include:
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): The most structured form of outpatient care. You meet your healthcare provider for 6–8 hours of therapy, medical support, and skill-building each day, several days a week.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): More flexible than PHP. Sessions take place three or more times per week for several hours each.
- Standard Outpatient Therapy: With fewer hours per week, ideal for those who are further along in recovery.
Therapy
Therapy is integral to recovery. With the help of a counselor or therapist, you work through the root causes of addiction and learn new coping tools.
These are the most widely used forms of therapy today:
- Individual Therapy: Private one-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist
- Group Therapy: Counseling in small groups of 8–12, typically, may be smaller or larger
- Family Therapy: Therapy sessions that involve couples or families
- Holistic Therapy: A whole-person approach to therapy that targets overall wellness and includes activities like fitness, nature walks, breathing exercises, etc.
The above therapies are usually based on evidence-based practices such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify destructive thinking patterns and replace them with healthier coping skills.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Focuses on managing strong emotions and harmful behaviors and building skills to accept, regulate, tolerate, and change.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Addresses past experiences, unresolved conflicts, and trauma that may be causing substance abuse.
- Integrative Therapy: Combines techniques from different approaches into a personalized plan.
Aftercare
Relapse is common, with 60% of people recovering from substance use disorder going back to using within one year. Having an aftercare plan dramatically improves the chances of maintaining sobriety.
Aftercare, also known as continuing care, is crucial to addiction recovery. Originally, it was seen as a lower-intensity treatment program that followed inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment.
In short, it’s a “step down” in the continuum of care. The goal was to reinforce progress made in treatment and prevent relapse.
Today, aftercare encompasses long-term support that may be provided in a treatment center, outpatient clinic, or even a primary care setting. The purpose remains the same:
- Help people in early recovery adjust to everyday life
- Provide tools to avoid relapse
- Support ongoing personal and recovery goals
Depending on your individual needs, your treatment program can include any of the following:
- Step-down care: Transitioning from residential program to outpatient care.
- Alumni programs: Ongoing support, sober events, or check-ins from the recovery center.
- Sober living homes: Safe, drug- and alcohol-free environments that provide structure and stability.
- Recovery meetings: 12-Step groups like AA and NA, or alternatives like SMART Recovery.
- Ongoing counseling: Continued therapy to address triggers, stress, and mental health needs.
What If You Have a Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorder
A co-occurring disorder, also called a dual diagnosis, is when you have both addiction and mental issues. This makes treatment more complicated since substance use disorder can worsen your mental health condition and vice versa.
For instance, someone may turn to alcohol to drown their depression and develop a dependence. When they’re not drinking, their depressive symptoms get worse. As a result, they drink more.
It’s hard to determine whether one caused the other, even if one seemed to appear first. What’s clear is that both disorders share the same risk factors, such as genetics, family history, and environmental influences.
Co-occurring disorders are common. In fact, 20.4 million US adults had it in 2023 alone. Without addressing both, relapse is very likely. The key is to apply an integrated approach, that is, treating the two disorders simultaneously and not in isolation from each other.
Effective dual diagnosis treatment involves:
- Medication management
- Individual, group, and family counseling
- Evidence-based therapy
Will My Insurance Cover Addiction Treatment in Delray Beach, FL?
Our addiction treatment facilities accept major health insurance providers. Your coverage level determines what’s included, but your treatment provider can quickly verify benefits.
If you don’t see your provider listed, contact our admissions staff to confirm your insurance coverage. We also offer other payment options to make care accessible.
Take the First Step Now
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that impacts every part of your life: your physical health, mental wellness, work, and relationships.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use, please know that there’s hope. Our accredited treatment facility for alcohol & drug rehab in Delray Beach, FL, can provide the level of care you need.
With personalized treatment, evidence-based care, and a strong recovery community, it’s possible to achieve long-term recovery.
Call us today to learn more about our treatment programs.
