Detox Centers in Clearwater Beach, Florida

Every year, thousands of people visit the white sands of Clearwater Beach, Florida, located along the Gulf of Mexico. In 2019, the popular travel website TripAdvisor named Clearwater Beach the best beach in the U.S. and the 6th best beach in the world.¹

The Intracoastal Waterway separates Clearwater Beach from its namesake city of Clearwater. Named for the numerous fresh springs that dot the city’s shore, Clearwater now has over 117,000 residents, and it is home to the Church of Scientology headquarters.^2,3,4

Some residents in Clearwater are silently struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. This city is the county seat of Pinellas County, an area that has experienced an increase in drug overdose deaths in the past couple of years.⁵ In 2020, 546 Pinellas County residents died from a drug overdose.⁵

Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, played a significant role in the increasing number of overdose deaths in the county.⁵ The drug is 50 times more potent than heroin and 80 times more potent than morphine.⁶

Pinellas County officials approved a $2 million federal grant in 2021 to help reduce the number of opioid overdoses in the area.⁷ The grant money was used to increase the distribution of medications like Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an overdose, as well as provide extra resources for emergency response teams that deal with overdose patients.⁷

Binge drinking in Clearwater is also higher than the state average in Florida.⁸ Almost 19% of adults in Clearwater in 2019 admitted to binge drinking within 30 days.⁸ The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines binge drinking as having 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more for women during one occasion.⁹

Government officials in Pinellas County joined forces with the neighboring counties of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk to launch All4HealthFL, a coalition tasked with reducing substance abuse and improving mental health for adults and youths

There are 47 treatment and rehabilitation facilities within 25 miles of Clearwater that provide services for overcoming a substance use disorder.¹¹ The available facilities include:

• 13 facilities that offer detox treatment.
• 38 outpatient facilities.
• 15 residential centers.

There are also 28 facilities in the Clearwater area that offer treatment for a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and mental health disorder.¹¹

A 2020 report stated there are 712 treatment facilities in Florida serving 45,620 clients.¹² The majority of these treatment options are outpatient treatment centers, of which Florida has 587.¹² There are also 80 detox facilities and 215 residential, inpatient facilities within the state.¹²

If you or a loved one are recovering from addiction, getting involved in a support group can help you on your journey. The Pinellas County Intergroup website provides information on Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in and around Clearwater.

The Bay Area Narcotic Anonymous website has information on NA meetings in Clearwater and the rest of Pinellas County.

1. TripAdvisor. (2019, February 26). TripAdvisor digs up America’s best beaches with 2019 travelers’ choice awards.
2. City of Clearwater. (n.d.). About us | City of Clearwater, FL.
3. U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). Census – Geography profile – Clearwater, Florida.
4. Scientology.org. (n.d.). Church of Scientology flag service organization.
5. Leigh, H. (2021, October 28). Overdose deaths in Pinellas County are rapidly rising. WFTS Tampa Bay.
6. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Fentanyl.
7. Peace, L. (2021, October 13). Pinellas Commission approves $2 million to fight opioid fatalities. Microsoft News: Tampa Bay Times.
8. All4HealthFL. (2019). Adults who binge drink.
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 6). Binge drinking.
10. All4HealthFL. (n.d.). All4HealthFL: About Us.
11. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
12. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2021). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities.