Alcohol & Other Drug Rehabilitation Center

On the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida, millions of people vacation each year, enjoying the white sand and gentle surf of the Gulf of Mexico. Those driving in to Florida from the West usually follow Interstate 10 across the Southern United States and into the state. Unfortunately, this same route serves drug traffickers bringing their products to the state from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Drugs in use in Florida

Marijuana in particular is a popular import, with more than 36 tons of the drug being seized in 2008 alone. Mexican imports of this drug add to the supply of marijuana grown locally and that brought up from South America. Cocaine is also broadly distributed through all parts of Florida, with much of that product being converted into crack cocaine. Each year, more than 350,000 people in Florida use cocaine. Nearly a million and a half use marijuana.

Spring Break

In 2008, more than 175,000 young people poured into Panama City, right in the heart of the Emerald Coast, for Spring Break. Wherever you have young people and parties, you have higher distribution of "club drugs" such as MDMA (Ecstasy), LSD and GHB. Most of the MDMA supplies enter the U.S. across the Canadian border. Interstates such as I-75 and I-95 down the East Coast make it an easy run into Florida.

Thus, more than 1.2 Floridians each year wind up addicted to drugs and alcohol, most of whom will not receive the treatment they need.

Why Randy & Debbie Ross Opened a Narconon Center

But even in a beautiful environment, life is intolerable for a family struggling with an addiction problem suffered by a loved one. Randy and Debbie Ross tried for years to help their son with his addiction, sending him to one rehab after another. Each effort failed, including visits to some well-known rehab centers. When they finally sent their son to a Narconon drug rehabilitation center, their dreams finally came true. Their son recovered from his addiction problems as a result of the Narconon program. Randy and Debbie wanted to make this addiction recovery technology available to other families struggling with a loved one's addiction, and so they opened their own Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Destin, Florida.

About the center and its services

They wanted to keep the rehabilitation facility small, so that every person recovering from addiction could get one-on-one care as part of their substance abuse recovery program. While many Floridians take advantage of this care close to home, many people also come from far away to experience this effective addiction recovery program.

Addictions treated include opiates--both prescription drugs such as hydrocodone or oxycodone, or heroin--cocaine (including crack cocaine) and alcoholism. Ages of those recovering range from 18 to over 70. As Florida remains one of the primary channels for the trafficking of cocaine and heroin into the United States, availability of these drugs stays high and that always means higher levels of abuse and addiction.

The Emerald Coast provides a lovely background for the entire drug addiction recovery process. The Ross's found a 10,000 square foot home right on the Gulf of Mexico. This allows those in recovery to enjoy walks with the staff, volleyball or barbecues. They can also take advantage of the weight room or pool, or visit a nearby health club. There are also laundry facilities on the site.

The Narconon Gulf Coast residential treatment facility can accommodate fourteen people pursuing a lasting recovery from addiction. At Narconon, these people are referred to as students as they are learning the skills that enable them to live free from the effects of narcotics, alcohol, amphetamines or other substances of abuse.

Community interaction

Students not only pursue their own lifetime recoveries from drug or alcohol addiction, they may also participate in community events such as volunteering at races or parades or distributing food to the homeless over the holidays. Activities such as these contribute to the students' recovery by enabling them to reach out to others to care for them--a gesture that is normally lacking in the lives of those dependent on or abusing substances such as crack cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs or alcohol.

Staff/Student ratio

In keeping with the intimate atmosphere of the Gulf Coast center, the staff-to-public ratio is nearly two-to-one. Twenty-three staff ensure that each student gets daily attention to help them succeed all the way to the end of their addiction recovery program. Staff not only work with those in treatment for addiction, but also the family, helping them understand how to assist the student while he or she returns to a productive life after completion of the program.

Licensing

Narconon Gulf Coast is licensed by the Florida Depart of Children and Families as a Residential Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Facility. Staff certifications provided by the State of Florida include Drug and Alcohol Addiction Specialists and Certified Addiction Professionals.