UF Health Shands Florida Recovery Center

UF Health Shands Florida Recovery Center offers medical detox as the entry point for individuals managing withdrawal from substances including alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and others listed among its confirmed conditions treated. Operating around the clock, the facility provides withdrawal management within a residential setting that is directly connected to outpatient and intensive outpatient programming — so the transition from detox into sustained recovery care happens within the same clinical system.

That continuity matters for long-term outcomes. Rather than completing detox and then searching for a separate outpatient program or IOP, patients at UF Health Shands Florida Recovery Center can step down through levels of care with consistent clinical oversight. For individuals with co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis — both of which the center confirms treating — this integrated model reduces the gaps where relapse risk typically rises.

The therapeutic framework at UF Health Shands Florida Recovery Center combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 12-step programming, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and group therapy. This combination reflects a pragmatic, multi-modal approach to substance use disorder: CBT addresses the thought patterns and behavioral triggers underlying addiction, while 12-step participation connects individuals to a peer recovery community that extends well beyond formal treatment. MAT supports sustained recovery for those whose treatment plans include pharmacological support.

Group therapy is a confirmed core modality, aligning with the community-oriented model that research consistently associates with stronger long-term recovery outcomes. The residential setting — apartment-style units, shared recreational spaces, a gym, and a pool — reinforces that community dynamic in daily life, not just during scheduled sessions.

Discharge planning at UF Health Shands Florida Recovery Center includes both formal aftercare services and an alumni program — two elements that distinguish a long-term recovery partner from a short-term crisis intervention. The alumni program keeps individuals connected to the UF Health recovery community after completing residential or outpatient treatment, offering continuity of relationship that many people in recovery identify as central to staying sober.

The center also lists comprehensive multi-day evaluations among its aftercare support offerings — a structured process for assessing ongoing needs as individuals transition out of higher levels of care. For family members trying to understand what happens after a loved one leaves residential treatment, this infrastructure signals that the recovery relationship does not end at discharge.

The center's confirmed populations span a wider range than most single-site rehab programs. Young adults ages 18–25, older adults and seniors, men, women, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and safety-sensitive professionals all receive care here. The inclusion of safety-sensitive professionals — a category that encompasses people in regulated occupations subject to licensing board or employer oversight — reflects the center's FSPHP accreditation, which specifically speaks to physician health program standards.

Insurance coverage includes Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Cigna, Humana, Capital Health, and Medicaid. Self-pay options are also accepted. Individuals exploring substance abuse treatment or outpatient programs in the Gainesville, FL area can reach the center directly at (352) 265-4372 or visit floridarecoverycenter.ufhealth.org for current program information.