Expert Insights
Students from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine recently won the Representation in Research award from the American Society of Addiction Medicine for their student-led research on the availability of buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone) in South Florida’s outpatient pharmacies.
Medical students served as staff members for a clinic run by the Miller School with a focus on providing medical care for ID drug users. And it was through that experience that Miller School medical students Maria Rodriguez and Alina Syros learned that FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder can dramatically reduce the mortality rates of those who are dependent on opioids like fentanyl, heroin, or oxycodone.
Despite the life-saving possibilities, locals still face enormous barriers to treatment, which prompted the students to advocate for proper access to buprenorphine. They interviewed 200 randomly selected pharmacies in the area, with the majority being large national chains.
When the data was finalized, the students found that 62% of pharmacies had no buprenorphine available. Rodriguez and Syros say the next step is to use their findings to make meaningful change at the local pharmacy level to bridge the gaps in treating opioid addiction.
How We Rank Listings
Our Miami listings draw from licensed treatment providers in the Florida Department of Children and Families directory, the SAMHSA National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Facilities, and verified provider data we collect directly from facilities. Each listing reflects a real, operating program, not a marketing placeholder.
We surface programs based on the level of care, payment types accepted, specialty populations served, and current accreditation status. Joint Commission, CARF, LegitScript, and NAATP credentials are flagged where applicable so families can quickly identify programs that meet recognized standards of care.
- Licensure with the Florida Department of Children and Families confirmed.
- SAMHSA directory presence and current contact information verified.
- Accreditation status checked against issuing bodies.
- Payment, insurance, and specialty program data refreshed on a regular cycle.
Rehab in Miami: What to Know
Miami is the seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida’s most populous county and the anchor of the South Florida metropolitan area. The city’s treatment landscape includes 88 licensed programs spanning medical detox, residential care, partial hospitalization, and outpatient services, with a heavy concentration of programs that treat co-occurring mental health conditions alongside substance use. Families looking at rehab options across Florida often find Miami-Dade has more depth of specialty programming than most other parts of the state.
Behavioral health funding for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties flows largely through Thriving Mind South Florida, the regional managing entity contracted by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Thriving Mind oversees a network of safety-net providers and coordinates the county’s 988 lifeline, mobile response teams, and crisis services, with operations run through partners like WestCare/The Village South, Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Banyan Health, and Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital. The result is a tiered system: uninsured residents move through DCF-funded community providers, while insured residents access a wider range of private and hospital-based programs as part of broader addiction treatment options.
Miami-Dade also operates the country’s original drug court, established in 1989 by the 11th Judicial Circuit and the Office of the State Attorney. The court diverts nonviolent defendants with substance use disorders into a minimum one-year treatment program with judicial oversight, and the model has since been replicated nationwide.
The local substance use picture is shaped by the fentanyl supply that has driven overdose patterns across South Florida since the mid-2010s. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s toxicology lab was among the first in the country to systematically track fentanyl and fentanyl analog deaths, and it continues to publish research on the local drug supply, including the rise of xylazine and synthetic cathinones (often sold as flakka) as cutting agents. The University of Miami’s IDEA Exchange, Florida’s first legal syringe services program, has operated in Overtown since 2016 and runs a mobile unit across the county.
Cost of Rehab in Miami
Rehab costs in Miami are generally in line with Florida averages, with variation driven by level of care, program length, and amenities. State-level data from America’s Health Rankings and treatment industry surveys puts the average cost of medical detox in Florida at $139,638, with inpatient programs averaging $49,981 and outpatient programs around $8,305. These figures reflect total program costs before insurance, scholarship, or sliding-scale adjustments. Insurance coverage, when available, typically reduces out-of-pocket costs significantly, and most facilities will run a benefits check before admission.
Miami-Dade’s cost of living sits above the Florida average, which can push private-pay program rates at the higher end of the state range, particularly for residential programs in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and the beachfront corridor. Programs in inland Miami-Dade and along the southern county boundary tend to cluster closer to state averages.
If full private payment is not realistic, several options can reduce the cost. Sliding-scale and financial-assistance programs are offered by a portion of Miami programs, and a smaller share offer scholarship funding or fully free treatment slots through state and county contracts. Our guide to inpatient rehab and residential treatment outlines what residential and outpatient stays typically include, which helps when comparing quoted prices.
How to Pay for Rehab in Miami
Across the 88 licensed treatment programs in Miami, 79 accept self-payment or cash, 57 accept private health insurance, 41 accept Florida Medicaid, and 28 accept Medicare. Most programs accept more than one payment source, and a growing share offer sliding-scale fees, financial assistance, or financing for residents who fall between full self-pay and Medicaid eligibility.
Medicare
Medicare covers substance use disorder treatment for eligible adults age 65 and older, as well as for younger adults receiving Social Security Disability Insurance. Part A covers inpatient hospital-based care, including hospital detox and inpatient psychiatric stays; Part B covers outpatient counseling, partial hospitalization, and medication-assisted treatment delivered in outpatient settings; Part D covers prescription medications, including the oral and long-acting injectable forms of buprenorphine and naltrexone. Out-of-pocket exposure depends on whether a person has Original Medicare with a supplement, a Medicare Advantage plan, or no supplemental coverage. Our overview of how insurance covers addiction treatment walks through what to verify before admission.
Medicaid
Florida Medicaid covers a full continuum of substance use treatment, including medical detox, residential care when medically necessary, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, standard outpatient counseling, and medication-assisted treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Coverage is delivered through Florida’s Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program. In Miami-Dade, the main plans serving SUD beneficiaries include Sunshine Health, Simply Healthcare, Humana, Aetna Better Health, Molina, and Community Care Plan. Prior authorization rules vary across plans, particularly for residential treatment and inpatient detox; office-based medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine or naltrexone is generally available without prior authorization. The most direct route into Medicaid-funded care for uninsured residents is through Thriving Mind South Florida’s provider network.
Military Benefits
Active-duty service members, retirees, and eligible dependents in Miami-Dade can access TRICARE-covered treatment through 18 local programs, and veterans can access the full continuum of SUD services through the Miami VA Healthcare System and the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, which is federally recognized as a Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment. The VA offers detox, residential care, outpatient SUD counseling, MAT, and co-occurring mental health treatment, and Vet Centers in Miami provide readjustment counseling. Additional rehab resources for veterans and military families outline benefits eligibility and how to enroll.
Insurance and Private Pay
Most major commercial carriers operate in the Miami market, and the 57 programs that accept private insurance generally contract with the largest plans. Verifying in-network status, deductible, and any prior authorization requirements before admission is the single most useful step a family can take to avoid surprise bills. Coverage for residential treatment varies more than coverage for outpatient programs, so this is usually where verification matters most.
- Aetna
- AvMed
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
- Cigna
- Florida Blue
- Humana
- Magellan
- Optum
- UnitedHealthcare
Other Low-Cost Options
For residents who fall between full private pay and Medicaid eligibility, 38 Miami programs offer sliding-scale fees, 31 offer financial assistance, and 18 offer financing. Sliding-scale rates are typically tied to verified household income, so admissions staff usually request recent pay stubs or a tax return. Financing arrangements vary widely; some are interest-free for short terms, while others are third-party loans with standard consumer interest rates.
Free Treatment Programs
Three programs in Miami offer fully free treatment, and additional free slots are available through DCF-contracted providers in the Thriving Mind network. Free care is generally tied to eligibility criteria such as income, uninsured status, or referral through the criminal justice system, the homeless services system, or a county crisis program. Information on rehab scholarships and free treatment pathways covers the most common routes into no-cost care.
Levels of Care Available in Miami
Miami’s treatment system includes 29 medical detox programs, 41 inpatient or residential programs, 11 partial hospitalization programs, 72 standard outpatient clinics, 65 programs that treat co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and 14 sober living homes.
Medical Detox
Medical detox is the first step for people physically dependent on alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or certain other substances. Programs provide round-the-clock medical monitoring and medications to manage withdrawal safely. Detox typically runs three to seven days for most substances and longer for benzodiazepines. Learn more about supervised medical detox and what to expect.
Inpatient and Residential Treatment
Residential programs in Miami offer 24-hour care in a structured therapeutic environment, with stays typically ranging from 28 to 90 days. These programs are most appropriate for people with severe substance use disorders, unstable home environments, or co-occurring conditions that benefit from intensive support.
Partial Hospitalization
Partial hospitalization programs deliver structured treatment four to six hours a day, five days a week, while clients return home or to sober living in the evenings. PHP often serves as a step down from residential care or a step up from outpatient care when symptoms intensify. See our overview of PHP treatment for what these programs typically include.
Outpatient Treatment
Standard outpatient programs include individual counseling, group therapy, and medication management on a schedule that allows work and family responsibilities to continue. Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) raise the frequency to several sessions per week. With 72 outpatient clinics, Miami has the deepest outpatient capacity of any city in Florida.
Co-occurring (Dual Diagnosis) Programs
Sixty-five of Miami’s 88 programs are equipped to treat co-occurring mental health conditions alongside substance use, including co-occurring depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Integrated treatment is the recommended standard of care when both conditions are present, since untreated mental health symptoms are a leading driver of relapse.
Sober Living and Aftercare
Sober living homes provide structured, substance-free housing for people transitioning out of residential treatment. They typically require continued participation in outpatient treatment, peer support, or recovery groups. Continuing care through rehab aftercare is consistently associated with better long-term outcomes.
Behavioral Therapy
Across all levels of care, evidence-based behavioral therapy forms the core of treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, motivational interviewing, and trauma-focused approaches.
Specialty Programs in Miami
Miami treatment providers offer a wide range of specialty tracks designed for specific populations and substance use patterns. Specialty programming matters because clinical needs, cultural context, and recovery goals vary across populations, and outcomes improve when treatment is matched to the person.
Women’s and men’s tracks address gender-specific clinical and social factors that affect recovery, including trauma histories, parenting responsibilities, and peer dynamics. Older adult programs adjust pacing and address the medical comorbidities and prescription medication issues that are common in this population. Young adult tracks serve the 18-to-25 age group, which includes a significant share of Miami’s college and university student community.
Free and Low-Cost Rehab Resources in Miami
Beyond licensed treatment programs, a network of crisis lines, county services, harm reduction organizations, and community-based providers serves Miami-Dade residents who need immediate help, information, or low-barrier access to care. If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health and substance use crises, 988 connects callers in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties to trained counselors at Jewish Community Services through our 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline partner.
Crisis Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 from any phone, 24/7. Local calls in Miami-Dade route to JCS 211 Miami counselors, with services in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
- 2-1-1 Miami: Dial 211 or 305-631-4211 for confidential information and referrals to community resources in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Text your ZIP code to 898211. Operated by Jewish Community Services of South Florida.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), free and confidential, 24/7, for substance use and mental health treatment referrals in English and Spanish.
- Thriving Mind South Florida access line: 1-888-248-3111 for help accessing the regional behavioral health safety-net system.
County and Government Services
- Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County: 305-575-3800. Information on county health programs, behavioral health resources, and public services. miamidade.floridahealth.gov
- Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department: 305-751-4342. County-administered behavioral health and social services for low-income residents.
- Miami-Dade 311 Contact Center: Dial 311 or 305-468-5900 for non-emergency county services, including referrals to housing, food, and behavioral health programs.
- Mobile Response Teams: Operated by WestCare/The Village South under Thriving Mind contract. Four teams serve Miami-Dade for on-site behavioral health crisis intervention. Request through 988 or 211.
Community and Nonprofit Providers
- Jewish Community Services of South Florida: 305-576-6550. Operates 211 Miami, the local 988 contact center, and free counseling services.
- Banyan Health Systems: 305-774-3616. Federally Qualified Health Center offering integrated behavioral health, primary care, and SUD treatment on a sliding-scale basis.
- Community Health of South Florida (CHI): 305-252-4820. Federally Qualified Health Center system with behavioral health services across South Miami-Dade.
- NAMI Miami-Dade: 305-665-2540. Free peer support groups, family-to-family education, and mental health advocacy.
- WestCare / The Village South: Residential and outpatient SUD treatment, including programs for criminal justice referrals and homeless residents.
Harm Reduction
- IDEA Exchange (University of Miami): Florida’s first legal syringe services program, operating a fixed site in Overtown and a mobile unit across Miami-Dade. Free naloxone distribution, syringe exchange, wound care, HIV and hepatitis C testing, and telehealth-delivered buprenorphine. ideaexchangeflorida.org
- NEXT Distro Florida: Free naloxone by mail for Florida residents at nextdistro.org.
Veterans and Military
- Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center: 1201 NW 16th Street, Miami. Main phone 305-575-7000. Outpatient Substance Abuse Clinic (OSAC), MAT, residential SUD options, and integrated mental health care.
- VA Sunrise Outpatient Clinic and Vet Centers: Located across Miami-Dade and Broward; readjustment counseling for combat veterans, family support, and SUD referrals.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255.
Court-Involved and Justice-System Referrals
- Miami-Dade Adult Drug Court: The nation’s first drug court, established in 1989 by the 11th Judicial Circuit. Voluntary diversion and treatment program for defendants with substance use disorders. Information through the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office at miamisao.com.
Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics in Miami
The data on substance use in Miami-Dade County continues to be shaped by the fentanyl and polysubstance trends that have driven overdose patterns across Florida since the mid-2010s. Statewide drug-related deaths declined for the third consecutive year in 2023, and Miami-Dade’s drug poisoning death rate remained below the Florida and U.S. averages for the 2021 to 2023 period, according to the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department’s toxicology laboratory has published research documenting the local fentanyl supply since 2014, including the increasing prevalence of fentanyl analogs and the emergence of xylazine as a cutting agent. Acute combined drug toxicity, in which fentanyl is found alongside cocaine, methamphetamine, or other substances, remains the most common cause of death in fentanyl-related cases at the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner. National context on overdose patterns is available through our overview of national substance use statistics.
On the prevention side, the IDEA Exchange has reported distributing thousands of naloxone kits since 2017 and has documented hundreds of community-reported overdose reversals tied to its program. Researchers at the University of Miami have credited the IDEA Exchange with contributing to the first observed decreases in opioid-related deaths in Miami-Dade since the start of the fentanyl wave.
Resources
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Medical Examiners Commission. (2025). Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons by Florida Medical Examiners, 2023 Annual Report. https://www.fdle.state.fl.us
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Medical Examiners Commission. (2024). 2023 Interim Drug Report. https://www.fdle.state.fl.us
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
- Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. (2024). Miami-Dade Matters: Death Rate Due to Drug Poisoning, 2021 to 2023. https://www.miamidadematters.org
- Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department. (2024). Toxicology Reports and Surveillance Data. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/medicalexaminer/home.page
- Potoukian, R. B., et al. (2023). Prevalence of xylazine in overdose cases: An analysis of Miami-Dade County medical examiner case data. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 68(6), 2205 to 2210.
- Thriving Mind South Florida. (2025). Network of Service Providers and Community Services. https://thrivingmind.org
- Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. (2025). Florida Medicaid Health Plan Resources for SUD and OUD. https://ahca.myflorida.com
- Miami VA Healthcare System. (2025). About Us, Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. https://www.va.gov/miami-health-care/
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. (2025). IDEA Exchange: Services and Programs. https://ideaexchangeflorida.org
- North American Syringe Exchange Network. (2024). IDEA Miami Syringe Services Program Directory Listing. https://nasen.org
- Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney. (2024). Treatment Courts: Adult Drug Court Program. https://miamisao.com
- Jewish Community Services of South Florida. (2025). 211 Miami and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. https://211miami.org
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Facilities. https://findtreatment.gov
