Florida Mental Health & Addiction Treatment Information

Florida is home to one of the most robust and diverse behavioral health and addiction treatment systems in the United States. The state’s network of mental health facilities and addiction treatment centers is designed to serve a wide variety of needs, from acute psychiatric crises to long-term rehabilitation, for both adults and youth. Below is a comprehensive overview of the types of facilities, what they treat, their core approaches, and how Florida’s unique legal and clinical environment shapes care.

Core Types of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Facilities in Florida

1. Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs)

Description:CSUs provide immediate, short-term psychiatric intervention for individuals experiencing acute mental health crises, such as suicidal ideation, psychosis, or severe mood episodes. These units are licensed by the state and typically serve low-income or uninsured individuals. Stays average 3 to 14 days, focusing on rapid stabilization, assessment, and discharge planning—either to home, a step-down facility, or long-term care.

Who They Treat:

• Adults and children in acute psychiatric crisis

• Individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others

Key Features:

• 24/7 supervision and psychiatric care

• Medication management and crisis counseling

• Often serve as Baker Act Receiving Facilities (see below)

2. Baker Act Receiving Facilities

Description:These are specialized facilities authorized to receive individuals who have been involuntarily or voluntarily admitted under Florida’s Baker Act. The Baker Act allows for emergency mental health evaluation and temporary detention when someone is deemed a risk to themselves or others due to mental illness.

Who They Treat:

• Individuals in psychiatric crisis (voluntary or involuntary)

• Those requiring emergency assessment and stabilization

Key Features:

• Secure environment

• Short-term evaluation and stabilization

• Coordination with courts, law enforcement, and families

3. Short-Term Residential Treatment Facilities (SRTs)

Description:SRTs provide a step-down from CSUs for adults who need more extended but less intensive psychiatric care. These programs typically last up to 90 days and focus on continued stabilization, therapy, and preparation for community reintegration.

Who They Treat:

• Adults with ongoing psychiatric needs post-crisis

• Individuals not ready for outpatient care

Key Features:

• 24-hour supervision

• Individual and group therapy

• Medication management

4. Long-Term Residential Treatment Facilities

Description:These facilities provide extended care for adults with serious and persistent mental illness. Programs range from highly structured, staff-intensive environments (Level IA/IB) to semi-independent apartments (Level V), depending on the resident’s functional abilities.

Who They Treat:

• Adults with chronic mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)

• Those needing ongoing support for daily living

Key Features:

• Levels of care based on independence and clinical need

• Life skills training, therapy, and medication support

• Staff-to-resident ratios tailored to acuity

5. Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities for Youth

Description:Non-hospital, Medicaid-approved facilities providing intensive inpatient services for children and adolescents with serious emotional or behavioral disorders.

Who They Treat:

• Children and teens with severe psychiatric or behavioral issues

Key Features:

• 24-hour care in a therapeutic environment

• Individual, group, and family therapy

• Educational support

6. Therapeutic Group Homes

Description:Small, community-based residential programs for up to 12 children, offering a home-like setting and comprehensive mental health support.

Who They Treat:

• Children with emotional or behavioral disorders

• Youth stepping down from higher levels of care

Key Features:

• 24-hour supervision

• Community integration and life skills development

7. Addiction Receiving Facilities (ARFs)

Description:Secure, acute-care residential facilities for individuals with severe substance use disorders, often admitted involuntarily under the Marchman Act. ARFs provide detoxification, stabilization, and assessment for ongoing treatment.

Who They Treat:

• Adults with acute substance use disorders

• Individuals requiring involuntary detox and stabilization

Key Features:

• 24/7 medical and nursing care

• Multidisciplinary assessment

• Coordination with legal and social services

8. Substance Use Disorder Residential Treatment (Levels 1–4)

Description:Florida regulates SUD residential programs by levels of care, from intensive, medically supported detox (Level 1) to low-intensity, supportive environments (Level 4). Programs may be short-term (30 days) or long-term, with a focus on rehabilitation and relapse prevention.

Who They Treat:

• Individuals with alcohol, opioid, stimulant, or polysubstance addiction

• Those needing structured, immersive recovery environments

Key Features:

• Individualized treatment plans

• Evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, 12-Step)

• Family involvement and aftercare planning

9. Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

Description:Outpatient programs allow clients to live at home while attending therapy and counseling. IOPs offer more frequent sessions (9–19 hours/week), focusing on relapse prevention, coping skills, and community support.

Who They Treat:

• Individuals with mild to moderate mental health or substance use disorders

• Those transitioning from residential care

Key Features:

• Flexible scheduling

• Group and individual therapy

• Medication management

10. Specialty Programs

Description:Many centers offer tailored programs for veterans, first responders, older adults, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis.

Who They Treat:

• People with unique cultural, demographic, or clinical needs

Key Features:

• Trauma-informed care

• Peer support and specialized therapy tracks

Mental Health and Addiction Conditions Treated in Florida

Mental Health Disorders

• Depression (Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia)

• Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, PTSD)

• Bipolar Disorder

• Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Personality Disorders

• Trauma and Complex PTSD

• Eating Disorders

• ADHD

• Process Addictions (gambling, internet, etc.)

Addiction and Substance Use Disorders

• Alcohol Use Disorder

• Opioid Use Disorder (heroin, prescription painkillers)

• Stimulant Use Disorder (methamphetamine, cocaine)

• Benzodiazepine Addiction

• Marijuana and Prescription Drug Abuse

• Polysubstance Abuse

Dual Diagnosis

• Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are common, requiring integrated treatment approaches.

Therapeutic Modalities and Evidence-Based Approaches

How Florida Facilities Help Clients: Approaches and Outcomes

• Individualized Assessments: All treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment of mental health, substance use, medical history, and social factors to create a tailored care plan.

• Medical Detoxification: Many programs offer medically supervised detox to manage withdrawal safely, especially for alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

• Integrated Dual Diagnosis Care: Facilities treat co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders simultaneously, as this approach is proven to improve outcomes.

• Multidisciplinary Teams: Treatment teams include psychiatrists, addiction medicine specialists, therapists, nurses, and peer support staff.

• Aftercare and Continuing Support: Discharge planning includes referrals to outpatient care, sober living, peer support, and family counseling to reduce relapse risk.

• Legal and Involuntary Commitment: Florida’s Marchman Act and Baker Act allow for involuntary admission to treatment for those at risk, with research showing similar success rates for voluntary and involuntary admissions.

Success Rates and Data

• Addiction Treatment: Florida boasts some of the highest rehab success rates in the U.S. Over 70% of people who receive addiction treatment in Florida successfully complete their programs. About 85–95% of those who complete drug rehab remain abstinent nine months after discharge. Alcohol rehab shows 76% sobriety at three months, 69% at six months, and over 70% at nine months.

• Mental Health Services: In FY 2023–2024, nearly 88,000 individuals received substance use disorder services and over 182,000 received mental health services through the Department of Children and Families, marking a 10% increase in SUD services from the previous year.

• Access to Care: Despite robust service offerings, 58.4% of adults with mental illness in Florida do not receive treatment, ranking the state 45th nationally for unmet need.

• Crisis Support: The 988 Florida Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answered over 120,000 calls in FY 2023–2024, with a 96% diversion rate (calls resolved without in-person response) and zero deaths during calls involving suicide attempts.

Recent Innovations and Policy Changes

• Workforce Expansion: Florida is investing in mental health workforce development, including the creation of the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce at USF, to address provider shortages and improve care access.

• Policy Updates: New CMS regulations in 2025 will increase inpatient payment rates for behavioral health facilities, expand telehealth flexibilities, and enforce mental health parity in insurance coverage.

• 988 Crisis Lifeline: Statewide adoption of the 988 crisis line has improved rapid access to crisis counseling and resources.

Summary Table: Facility Types and Core Features in Florida

Conclusion

Florida’s behavioral health and addiction treatment landscape is vast and nuanced, offering a full continuum of care from acute crisis intervention to long-term rehabilitation. Facilities are highly regulated and tailored to meet the needs of diverse populations, including children, adults, veterans, and those with dual diagnoses. Evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, and MAT are widely utilized, and success rates for those who complete treatment are among the highest in the nation. However, significant gaps in access remain, particularly for uninsured and low-income individuals, highlighting the ongoing need for policy innovation and workforce development.

Whether seeking help for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, OCD, or any form of substance use disorder, Florida offers specialized programs, legal protections, and a wide range of therapeutic modalities to support individuals and families on the path to recovery.